Petition for release of GCAP Malawian activists
We the members of civil society organisations across Africa are shell-shocked at the news of the arrest and detention without bail of Edward Chileka, Howard Jimu and Awonenji Chimera (associated with Eye For Development, a youth-based NGO) in Malawi. This is an event that we cannot take lightly.
As members of CSO, we are guided by the principles behind the constitutive act of the African union which Malawi adopted with 52 African states. This enjoins all governments in Africa to promote the fundamental human rights and freedoms of its citizens. Additionally, the Constitution of the republic of Malawi provides for freedom of opinion and association under articles 34 and 37. “Every person shall have the right to freedom of opinion, including the right to hold opinions without interference to hold, receive and impart opinions.”
As CSOs in Africa, we believe that the Youth are the bedrock of the future development of any nation; hence, any attempt by young people to challenge the status quo and to offer constructive criticism must be applauded and accepted in good faith by our governments. We believe that youth deserve to be supported whether they be “for” or “against” status quo in any of their countries. We are fully against any political segregation of the youth in any country.
As Civil Society, we speak out as a voice for the voiceless, not with the intention of bringing about discord but with a united spirit to bring about an end to the inequalities we see around us. As CSO, we ask that our members be left to act not as enemies of the state but as people speaking out when others cannot..
In the wake of the above, the arrest and detention of the three youth activists will serve as a major setback to Malawi’s fledgling democracy and a taint on the image of Africa and that of the African Union.
As the Chairperson of African Union, the President is best placed to note that many African conflicts are rooted in competition over access to opportunities and resources that are regulated through policies and statements that encourage unfair distribution.
As Africans and Civil Society members, we still have some hope in our leaders. We therefore call upon Malawi’s President also the AU president to reverse his position on prioritizing any youth in the enterprise fund. We also call for the immediate release of Edward Chileka, Howard Jimu and Awonenji Chimera.
GCAP