MALAWI: Respect the Rule of Law, Bishops Say To Nation Awaiting Court Verdict On Disputed Presidential Election Case
The Episcopal Conference of Malawi has issued a statement to all Catholics and people of good will, dated 3rd December 2019, calling upon them to respect and uphold the rule of law as the nation awaits court ruling on the disputed May 21 2019 Presidential Election case. The message comes amidst fears that either of the parties involved may resort into violent acts if the verdict goes against their favour.
“We all have the duty and responsibility to promote peace and unity. We therefore call upon all citizens of this country to respect and uphold the rule of law so that all can peacefully coexist,” say the Bishops in their statement.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the violence in all its forms and manifestations that continue to take place in some parts of the country,” reads the statement which continues by saying, “Violence is an evil and unacceptable. It is contrary to the human rights and freedoms we fought for when we chose multiparty system of Government.”
The Constitutional court in Lilongwe has now concluded the hearing with the last witness having been cross examined today. The court has been parading witnesses from the contesting parties wherein the United Transformation Movement and Malawi Congress Party were first petitioner seeking nullification of the election, and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) alongside the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) were second petitioner arguing that despite the undisputable irregularities in the tally sheets their candidate Prof. Peter Mutharika was the winner.
The Bishops remind Malawians about the appeal for peace which they made in June 2019 when the country was rocked by violence as a result of the disputed election so much that everything almost came to a standstill. Now there is fear that no party will easily accept the Constitutional Court ruling whichever way it may go, and so there is high likelihood that the disgruntled party may resort into violent acts once again.
The bishops have pledged to continue praying for justice, peace, reconciliation and unity in the country. However, they call upon all commissions of the Church, especially the Pastoral, Social Communications and Justice and Peace Commissions, “to come up with concrete ways of preparing the people to accept the ruling in the interest of maintaining, promoting and safeguarding peace and unity among the Malawians.”
Since May, following the announcement of Prof. Peter Mutharika the DPP candidate as winner of the May 21 presidential election, tension characterized the nation and Malawi has seen angry political followers demonstrating and destroying public property, putting into question the countries pride as “during which some people have lost lives.
Even though violence has been experienced across the country, the ugliest scenes occurred in the the Central region where the opposition party MCP is dominant as a police man was killed; school girls and women were raped; and some human rights activists were reportedly receiving death threats.
Already on October 19, the Catholic bishops held prayers for peace in all the eight Catholic cathedrals across the country to seek God’s intervention. Meanwhile, together with other Church leaders under the umbrella body Public Affairs Committee (PAC) they have attempted to engage the stakeholders in constructive dialogue.
As the cross-examining of witnesses comes to an end this Friday December 7, social media postings indicate high potential for violence to erupt once again as each contesting party expects the Court ruling to be in their favour and to reject the contrary.
“Lord, make me an instrument of peace,” the bishops quote from the Prayer for Peace of Saint Francis.
By AMECEA Online News
