By FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PROPOSAL FOR LIFE PRESIDENCY IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY
The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) is concerned with recent remarks made by the Honorable Member of Parliament for Lilongwe Mapuyu South, Esther Cecilia Kathumba proposing that President Lazarus Chakwera should be a “life president”. We sadly learn that the honorable member of parliament who is also a member of Malawi Congress Party made these remarks owing to what she calls President Chakwera’s ‘transformative leadership style’.
CHRR strongly condemn such remarks especially coming from someone who is a law maker and who we believe is well versed with the country’s laws as guided by the republican constitution. We believe these sentiments are a threat to constitutional principles and to our hardly earned democracy.
In 1994, Malawians voted out one party system in favour of multiparty democracy. The vote that came following a national referendum gave Malawians power to choose a leader of their choice through the ballot. As a country we have made strides to grow our democracy, therefore, suggesting imposing a lifetime president for them is not only dangerous but also lacking merit in all sense.
Proposing lifetime presidency does not only go against the fundamental principles of democracy, which emphasizes rotation of power, but also has potential of destabilizing the political landscape in the country.
As CHRR we would also like to remind the member of parliament that such remarks are a recipe of creating dictators which Malawi is not ready to go back to.
CHRR Executive Director Michael Kaiyatsa quoted by Daily Times Newspaper of 31st May 2024
CHRR ED Kaiyatsa quoted in Daily Times of 31st May,2024
As we race towards the 2025 general elections, we know the campaign fever among politicians is high and everyone would want to use any available platform to score points to potential voters; but we urge politicians to focus on instilling hope in the citizenry by tackling issues of national building.
We also urge President Chakwera to denounce such pronouncements.
Let Malawi be led by a leader who is chosen by majority, we believe that is what democracy entail.
Signed today Thursday, 30th May 2024 in Lilongwe
By: Michael Kaiyatsa Executive Director –CHRR
(Phone: 0998895699)
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