SPEECH BY

HER EXCELLENCY DR. JOYCE BANDA THE STATE PRESEDENT OF MALAWI ON THE SWEARING IN OF COMMISSIONER J. DZONZI, OF THE MALAWI HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AT KAMUZU PLACE, LILONGWE

MONDAY, 7TH APRIL, 201

1|Page

 T!"

C!#"$

S"%&"'(&)

'*

'!"

G*+"&,-",' M&.. H(/( N0#1*/"2 T!" A''*&,") G","&(1, M&.

A,'!*,) K(-(,3(, SC2 D&. J(,"'. B(,0(, G","&(1 J4.'#%"2 A-5(..(0*& C!(#&6"&.*,, S*6!#" M(1(/# K(1#,0", H4-(, (,0 T!" S*1#%#'*& $*&

S"%&"'(&)

R#3!'. C*--#..#*,2 (,0 A11 C*--#..#*,"&. !"&"

6&".",'2

2|Page

M&. G&(%" M(1"&(, E7"%4'#+" S"%&"'(&), M(1(/# H4-(, R#3!'. C*--#..#*,2

D#.'#,34#.!"0 G",'1"-",

L(0#".

(,0

I welcome you all to Kamuzu Palace. It is a great honour for me to preside over this ceremony of the swearing-in of Commissioner Justin Dzonzi, who I appointed to fill a vacancy in the alawi !uman "ights Commission, in
3|Page

accordance with the provisions in the Constitution of the "epu#lic of and the alawi !uman alawi "ights

Commission $ct. I wish to congratulate Commissioner Dzonzi for his appointment. D#.'#,34#.!"0 C*--#..#*,"&.,

L(0#". (,0 G",'1"-", %he alawi has !uman powers "ights and

Commission

responsi#ilities under the Constitution

4|Page

of the "epu#lic of

alawi and %he

alawi !uman "ights Commission $ct to promote and protect human rights, and to investigate human rights violations. I would, therefore, li&e to urge

Commissioner Dzonzi as the new Commissioner, and indeed the rest of the Commissioners to ensure that the Commission operates according to the dictates of the Constitution and the

5|Page

alawi !uman "ights Commission $ct at all times. %he 'aw also to demands (su#mit of to the the

Commission

President, Parliament or any other competent authority, on an advisory #asis, either at the re)uest of the President, Parliament or such other authority or on its own volition, its opinions, recommendations, proposals or reports on any matters concerning

6|Page

the protection and promotion of human rights*. +ith this mandate in view, it would mean that the Commission should not only spea& when there is something to criticise #ut also when there is need to encourage and assure the people that the country,s human rights record is moving in the right direction. -or instance, e.actly two years ago, this country was e.periencing very

7|Page

challenging political and economic governance issues. +e had #ad laws which had #een passed. Civil society political space was closed. ost /01 leaders were

hiding from threats of death2 and some of their offices were attac&ed. %his is not the case now. Civil society organisations are

operating freely2 political parties are running their campaigns freely without 0overnment harassment and issues of
8|Page

tri#alism and ethnicity are no longer on the national de#ate as was the case then. %hese achievements should not #e ta&en for granted as they reflect the political will I have ta&en and the deli#erate choice that my 0overnment has made.

9|Page

D#.'#,34#.!"0

C*--#..#*,"&.,

L(0#". (,0 G",'1"-", It is the e.pectation of 0overnment that the alawi !uman "ights

Commission will focus on #roader issues of human rights and

development in our effort to transform this country. $s we close the past 34 years and enter the ne.t 5u#ilee, it is the hope of 0overnment that the alawi !uman "ights Commission will ta&e a leading role in mo#ilising the
10 | P a g e

country towards this transformational agenda that 1ur 0overnment country is

implementing.

cannot

continue to go in cycles all the time. 1ur country has #een going through a vicious cycle of human rights a#uses. -or e.ample, when I too& over the Presidency, there was great anger among the people across the country regarding the state of affairs in our country.

11 | P a g e

$s you may recall, most civil society organisations were worried that the country was going in the wrong direction. I have turned around that direction and endeavoured to promote an e)uita#le development agenda and enhanced a national consciousness where we are now en5oying unity in diversity. In the same vein, I wish to assure the Commission and through you the nation that as President of this country
12 | P a g e

shall

continue

deepening

the

democratic gains we have achieved even during this electoral period. D#.'#,34#.!"0 C*--#..#*,"&.,

L(0#". (,0 G",'1"-", I wish to remind the alawi !uman

"ights Commission of the enormous duty it has on the issue of 6lections, in light of the ay 7489 are all %ripartite aware,

6lections. $s we

elections are a human rights issue.

13 | P a g e

%he

0overnment the

and

alawians as an

e.pect

Commission

independent institution to monitor all the electoral processes and carry out evidence-#ased engagement with duty #earers to ensure that all the human rights that are inter-lin&ed with

elections are safeguarded. -or e.ample, my 0overnment

li#eralised the issuance of television and radio licences and opened up the freedom to access information.
14 | P a g e

+hile this is applauded, we notice with concern some radio stations using hate speeches, #roadcasting total lies against political parties, candidates, certain citizens and at times even against 0overnment. %his is an a#use of the freedoms that our Constitution guarantees. :ome of these radio stations are conducting a

disinformation campaign against the population which poses a national security ris&.
15 | P a g e

+e have also noted incidences of political violence and intimidation

where even where a police man and a civilian have #een &illed. In the past, these violations were done #y

0overnment agents or the ruling Party #ut today it is the opposite. In such incidences, it is the hope of 0overnment to see the alawi !uman

"ights Commission stand up for pu#lic interest and defend the Constitution. ;ut this has not #een the case now. It
16 | P a g e

is surprising that even the most civil society groups and activists have #een )uiet on these issues. It is in the #est interest of our country that the 7489 %ripartite 6lections are conducted transparent %hus, the through and role a free, fair,

credi#le of

process.

governance alawi !uman cannot #e

institutions such as the "ights Commission

overemphasised, and it is our duty to

17 | P a g e

ensure that these institutions function effectively. It is for these reasons that I have always assured you of my

0overnment,s commitment to uphold and support the independence of the alawi !uman "ights Commission. 'et me reiterate this commitment #y emphasising that my 0overnment will continue to give the Commission all the necessary support to deliver on its mandate.
18 | P a g e

am

aware

that

the

Commission is facing a num#er of challenges including financial, human resource and materials. In conclusion, let me once again congratulate Commissioner Dzonzi on his appointment, and remind him that #eing appointed to serve in the alawi

!uman "ights Commission is a call to national service. I wish you and the rest of the Commissioners all the success as you discharge your mandate. ;e assured
19 | P a g e

that you have my personal and my 0overnment,s support for this no#le and gracious cause. I '!(,8 )*4 $*& )*4& (''",'#*,.

20 | P a g e