On paper, Malawi is a democratic country that values human rights. In real terms, however, the country is far from embracing ideals of democracy, which promote freedom of assembly, association, expression, among others.
If ever we needed evidence that the country is still nursing a hangover of repression, the action by Home Affairs Minister Grace Chiumia vindicates our greatest fears that we are being led by people who use emotions, other than reason, when making decisions that impact the nation.
For all we know, there is no justifiable reason in arresting 42 National Registration Bureau staff members who gathered peacefully to discuss matters affecting their work and livelihood. More so when the officers, 14 of them spent the night in the cooler, were arrested on orders of the minister.
When Cabinet ministers, most of whom tow party lines, start barking instructions at the so-called reformed National Police Service to arrest innocent citizens, we should be very afraid because, next time, it will be people with dissenting views who shall be the victims.
Actually, the minister’s decision is a smack in the face of police independence. All along, we were made to believe that police do not act under duress, or on instructions from politicians, but, time and again, we are reminded that we still have elements that want to treat us as toys. This happens in cases where government officials, who have no knowledge about law enforcement, start barking orders.
Our police should be independent of political interference so that they can enjoy the trust of all Malawians. But, at the rate we are running to senselessness, Malawi risks turning into a police state.
We do not want a situation where public officials act out of emotions, instead of reflecting on their actions before acting. This has the potential to cost the government millions of kwacha, especially when aggrieved parties seek court redress or take other measures to make up for the humiliation they suffer in situations such as this.
Let us not forget that such actions have cost the taxpayer millions of kwacha before, while the officials who aggravated the situation do not pay for their actions. The other day, one State president suggested that public officials who attract lawsuits to the government, related to the work they do on behalf of the government, would have to pay for their actions, instead of piling the financial burden on taxpayers.
But, like all sound ideas, the idea was discarded. We believe we need that policy in place, so that, maybe, public officials may think twice before they act.
Lastly, let us say that officials such as Chiumia have no room in modern Malawi. We know that she may feel that she was acting for the common good, and that we will buy her line of thinking. Nay, we live in a democratic State. We have come from far and we do not want to be living in fear in a supposedly free country.
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