Mejn for rule of law in Sadc
Malawi Economic Justice Network (Mejn) has urged Southern African Development Community (Sadc) member states to promote the rule of law.
Mejn Board Chairperson Bishop Martin Mtumbuka said, without following good governance principles, citizens would remain poor despite their countries having abundant resources.
He cited corruption as one of the factors fuelling corruption on the continent.
“They have gathered here, in Lilongwe; they realise this. They must be following the rule of law in their country; otherwise, this is just a good picnic for them,” Mtumbuka said.
He made the remarks at the Sadc People’s Summit in Lilongwe, where civil society organisation (CSO) leaders deliberated on issues.
“Many members of Sadc are very rich but, at the same time very poor, fighting all the time. The real problem is non-adherence to the rule of law,” Mtumbuka added.
Non-Governmental Organisation in Malawi Board Chairperson Cossam Munthali said CSOs would always keep the government in check on excesses.
Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders representative Mary Da Silva said some countries in the region were facing challenges in following democratic principles.
Meanwhile, Presidential Adviser on CSOs Martha Kwataine has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding human rights principles.
Mathews Kasanda is a journalist who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from University of Malawi (The Polytechnic).
In 2015, Media Institute of Southern Africa awarded him the Best Print Media Education Journalist of the Year accolade.
He joined Times Group Newsroom in September 2019.
