Date Of Article: 5/30/2002
To Print This Story Goto File > Print
<<Back
Churches, NGOs for injunctions
By: Pilirani Semu-Banda and Joseph Langa
Top church leaders and non governmental organisations in the country yesterday held two parallel meetings in Blantyre and Lilongwe where they agreed to seek two court injunctions stopping parliamentarians from discussing the amendment of the Constitution and to challenge President Bakili Muluzi’s ban on demonstrations on the issue. The Blantyre meeting, held at Limbe Catholic Cathedral, brought together top leaders from the Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Providence Industrial Mission (PIM), CCAP, Baptist Convention, Public Affairs Committee and some human rights organisations including Civil Liberties Committee (Cilic), Malawi Carer and Christian Services Committee (CSC). The day-long meeting, opened by Archbishop Tarcisius Ziyaye of Blantyre Archidiocese, condemned intentions to amend the Constitution, saying the trend would lead to dictatorship and lack of accountability. Director of Bible Apostolate (Blantyre) Father Edward Masauko said in an interview soon after the meeting the injunctions would be sought before the amendment is discussed. “We won’t say in the open when exactly we’re going to court but we will go before the matter is discussed in Parliament,” said Masauko. He said the meeting agreed on the plan of action after “unanimously agreeing” that the proposal to leave the president’s term of office open would not benefit the country. “The delegates said the Open Term Bill would render the Constitution useless,” said Masauko. He said Muluzi’s ban against demonstrations either for or against the president’s term of office was against the principles of democracy. “That ban is not even constitutional,” said Masauko. Among the top church officials who attended the meeting were Father Constantine Kaswaya (Anglican), Reverend Mabua (PIM), Reverend Grayson Mputeni (CCAP-Blantyre), Reverend Macdonald Kadawati (CCAP-Blantyre), Father Robert Mwaungulu (Catholic), Reverend Howard Matiya (CCAP-Nkhoma), Monsignor Bonface Tamani (Catholic) and Father George Buleya (Catholic). In Lilongwe, the meeting was held at Lilongwe Hotel and among the delegates were those from the Roman Catholic Church, CCAP, Lutheran Evangelical Church, Carer, CCJP, Congoma, Malawi Human Rights Commission, Women’s Voice, Public Affairs Committee and university students. Chief Kuntaja of Blantyre and Group Villageheadman Makungula of Zomba were among the traditional leaders who attended it. Delegates agreed to stage a demonstration at the National Assembly tomorrow and seek an injunction with the High Court to stop Parliament from debating the presidential term of office. Chairman for Malawi Human Rights Consultative Committee, which organized the meeting, Rodgers Newa said this decision has been made because people have not been widely consulted on the issue. He also said members of the civil society have resorted to a demonstration despite the ban by the president because it is their constitutional right. A legal expert and senior lecturer with the University of Malawi Edge Kanyongolo, who was providing legal assistance during the meeting, said the members were free to seek legal redress on the issue but said the result is unpredictable.
<<Back
© 2001-2002 Nation Publications Limited, All Rights Reserved