By Draxon Maloya
MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse Alliance government is being accused of political and civil rights arrests.
The political and civil rights landscape in Malawi is once again facing challenges following the emerging cases of arbitrary arrests for individuals expressing their opinions in relation to the plane crash that occurred in Nthungwa in Chikangawa Forest, located in the Mzimba district.
The arrests are targeting those who have openly spoken about the tragic plane crash that killed the former state Vice President, Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima, former first Lady, Shanil Dzimbiri and seven others on June 10th.
Rumphi-East parliamentarian, Kamlepo Kalua, and comedian turned political activist, Bon Kalindo of Malawi First, have both found themselves in turmoil.
The are currently in the hands of the police due to their outbursts on social media platforms for accusing the government on how it handled the search and rescue operation leading to the recovery of the crashed military plane.
The arrests of Kalua and Kalindo have sparked fear among the general public, as well as other members of the media, who are concerned about their freedoms of expression being suppressed.
The situation is further exacerbated by threats from government officials such as the government Spokesperson, Moses Kumkuyu and Homeland Security Minister Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma, who have recently made public statements indicating their support for what some quarters have described as arbitrary arrests.
The crackdown on freedom of speech in Malawi is a cause for concern, as it goes against the principles of democracy and the right to freedom of expression.
The arrests of Kalua and Kalindo serves as a warning to other individuals who may wish to speak out against government actions or policies in the future.
In an interview on Sunday morning Kalua’s son, Penjani, popularly known as Freddokiss expressed concerns about the manner in which his father has been moved from Namitete to Lumbadzi Police Station.
“He is now at Lumbadzi, moved from Namitete police station but as a family together with his lawyer, Lusungu Gondwe we are not informed of the development, not even a single statements have been taken,” said Freddokiss.
First among the notable figures to visit Kamlepo Kalua at Namitete police station was the former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Governor, Dalitso Kabambe, after he was picked up early Friday morning at his house in Blantyre.
“I expressed my solidarity with Hon Kamlepo Kalua, as way of showing support for a fellow politician and friend who is facing difficult circumstances.
“Hon. Kalua is one of the people that I respect in this country, from the time he was fighting for multiparty democracy to now. I have worked with him during my past time as Reserve Bank Governor on many occasions as a member of the Public Accounts Committee and the Budget and Finance Committee of Parliament where we used to interact on regular basis,” said Kabambe.
In a statement issued by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, George Chaponda accused ChakweraTonse Alliance administration for arresting the two saying that these are clear indications that Cybercrime Act has become a tool to intimidate and harass those who express views critical of the regime adding that MCP is a threat to democracy and is returning the country to the one party state.
“We are deeply concerned about the escalating trend of arrests of human rights activists, journalists and citizens under the pretex of the Cybercrime Act. While we acknowledge the importance of protecting our nation from cyber threats, we cannot allow this law to be misused to silence dissenting voices and stifle free speech,” reads part of the statement.
On Friday night, Kalindo was transferred from Lumbadzi Police to Nkhotakota Police station, where he spent the weekend in custody his lawyer, Khwima Mchizi, confirmed this development to the media.
Meanwhile, the National Police Public Relations Officer, Peter Kalaya confirmed Kalua and Kalindo’s movements from one police cell to the other but refused to divulge more information.
But in his response the Attorney General, Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda said freedom of expression does not mean freedom to incite violence.
“Freedom of expression does not mean freedom to tell lies which have the propensity to drag the country into anarchy,” said Nyirenda.
The Attorney General further stated that the arrest is based on a law properly passed by Parliament, arguing that this is the practice the rule of law.
As the situation continues to unfold, the media and human rights organizations in Malawi are calling for the government to respect the rights of its citizens and uphold the principles of democracy.
It remains to be seen how the government will respond to these calls for greater freedom of expression in the country
