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Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) on Monday asked President Bakili Muluzi to explain to the nation the source of maize he distributes during his political party rallies.
HRCC Chairman Rodgers Newa told a news conference in Lilongwe that the office of the President is subject to issues of accountability and transparency and its is important that Muluzi explains where the maize is coming from.
“He needs to explain where the maize is coming from, otherwise it would not be wrong to assume that the maize is a campaign tool for the 2004 general elections,” said Newa.
He also condemned Muluzi on his attacks to journalists who were trying to find out where the president gets the maize.
“The article in Weekend Nation newspaper was more elaborate and all the people in authority said they were not aware of the source of the maize. So, because the president holds that office on public trust, he has to tell us where the maize is coming from,” said Newa.
The country experienced a maize shortage last year and government had to spend K7 billion to import the grain from outside.
HRCC also condemned Muslims for their violent demonstrations in reaction to the deportation of five members of the Muslim community suspected to be members of the international terrorist al Qaeda network.
“We condemn the violence but we support the idea that they are demonstrating against the deportation of their brothers. All people have got a constitutional right to demonstrate and express their views but it should not turn violent,” said Newa.
Ollen Mwalubunju, an executive member of HRCC said the Malawi and United States governments flouted international laws by allowing the five to be deported.
“These people had a legal status here. It is fair that courts should have ruled whether they were going to be tried in their respective countries or here. It was not the duty of the executive branch of government to decide,” said Mwalubunju.
Newa said Muluzi should stand by his word that Malawi is a sovereign state by asking the US government to hand over the suspects, who are believed to be in Guantanamo bay in Cuba for questioning by the Us authorities, so that they are tried by the courts here in Malawi.
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