April 14, 2003

LILONGWE - Top government officials met with human rights activists in Lilongwe recently to try and come up with a national plan of action that would promote human rights in Malawi.

The meeting, which brought together principal secretaries, heads of government departments as well as human rights activists, examined how to integrate into government policy, a plan that had been drawn up by Malawi Human Rights Commission.

Deputy secretary to the president and cabinet, Michael Kamphambe Nkhoma, expressed concern that citizens of Malawi were still not enjoying some fundamental rights.

The discussions came against a background of political violence in the country. For the past year, youths belonging to the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) were blamed for widespread political violence.

Opposition groups were in the forefront in condemning violent acts of a group called Young Democrats . But the main opposition league, Malawi Congress Party (MCP), seems to be taking over the scenario and engaging in political violence within its own ranks.

Recently, MCP deputy regional chairman for the south, Nicholas Dausi, was roughed up by men believed to be loyalists of the party's president, Gwanda Chakuamba.

The incident occurred at the party's regional headquarters in Blantyre,where Chakuamba was expected to address Southern Region delegates in preparation for a convention scheduled for April 29.

Commenting on the incident, Dausi said the party's youth wing was intimidating and suppressing members who did not support Chakuamba.

All Africa News Agency
Reported by Hamilton Vokhiwa