JOINT STATEMENT BY OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES ISSUED IN BLANTYRE AT 12 NOON, F RIDAY 17TH FEBRUARY 2010 We, the undersigned

representatives of opposition political parties in Malawi, h ereby call for the immediate and unconditional release of the former Attorney Ge neral and renowned human rights lawyer, Mr. Ralph Kasambara, who is being held u nder unlawful detention at the Zomba Maximum Security Prison by the Democratic P rogressive Party (DPP) Government of President Bingu wa Mutharika. The Mutharika government continues to hold Mr. Kasambara in detention, three day s after his arrest, in open defiance of bail duly granted by a competent court o f law. We find this to be unacceptable in a democratic dispensation and we are, therefore, calling on the Mutharika government to release Mr. Kasambara by 12 PM of Saturday, 18th Februalry 2012. Should the government fail to comply, we will be left with no choice but to employ necessary and lawful political means to en sure his immediate release. We, the opposition parties, find the cruel handling of Mr. Kasambara as a seriou s violation of his rights as an individual and a clear demonstration by the Muth arika government that it does not respect the rule of law. It is on record that the DPP Government has blatantly disregarded the court order to release Mr. Kasa mbara and his accomplices on bail on the pretext that courts support staff member s are on strike. The governments excuse to keep Mr. Kasambara in detention sounds very hypocritica l because the same DPP Government obtained court documents to search Mr. Kasamba ras Ralph & Arnolds offices and his private house in Nyambadwe. The opposition parties are also concerned that: a) Instead of arresting the alleged assassins of Mr. Kasambara, the police arreste d the complainants whilst according VIP treatment to Mr. Kasambaras assailants. F rom the available information, the assassins were commandeered to Mr. Kasambaras of fice by individuals in public service and the same public officers ensured that after the failed plot, they received VIP medical treatment at Seventh Day Advent ist Hospital ; b) The police have assumed powers certainly beyond those provided in the Republi can Constitution in as far as this matter and other similar matters are concerne d. The police are now conducting themselves as if they were a political party mi litia instead of serving the people of Malawi without regard to political persua sions. The police should always adhere to the provisions of Chapter 15, Section 153 (1, 2, 3 and 4) which prescribe their independence from political interferen ce. c) Reports that there are several other planned arrests of perceived government enemies in a bid to intimidate and silence them are unwelcome in a democratic Ma lawi; and d) If proved correct, rumours that there are assassins on the loose hired from a neighbouring country to deal with perceived regime enemies are not just barbari c but unwelcome in a democratic dispensation. The opposition parties would like to warn President Mutharika and his Government that they shall be held accountable should anything unnatural happen to Mr. Kas ambara and indeed to any other peace-loving Malawian. The parties shall leave no stone unturned to ensure that democracy, good governance, observance of human r ights and the rule of law are upheld and preserved in a democratic Malawi. We, the opposition parties, are appalled by that the fact that during the past t

wo years, the Mutharika regime has, without shame and due regard to democratic n orms as enshrined in the Republican Constitution, proceeded to trample on the ba sic rights of the people of Malawi, who in 1993, chose a democratic form of gove rnment. We would like to remind President Mutharika and his government that Malawians vo ted for a multiparty democratic system of government against a dictatorship even when such a dictatorship provided food on every Malawians table and even when th e dictator claimed that there was development spread all over. Malawians wanted freedom, enjoyment of human and peoples rights and a sense of belonging to Mother Malawi. Finally, we, the undersigned parties would like to assure our respective members and the general public at large that this renewed collaboration amongst our pol itical parties will continue beyond the matter of our fellow citizen, Mr. Kasamb ara, which we vow to see to its rightful conclusion. Subsequent joint actiites a ctivites will be announced in due course to ensure enhanced collaboration amongs t ourselves as we continue to fight to safeguard our hard-won freedom and the in tergirty of our country. Signed by: Friday Jumbe & George Ntafu - United Democrati Front (UDF) Kamuzu Chibambo - Peoples Transformation Party (PETRA) Mark Katsonga Phiri - Progressive Party of Malawi (PPM) Gwanda Chakuamba - New Republican Party (NRP) Kamplepo Kalua Malawi Democratic Party (MDP) Levison Ganiza - Mafunde Rev. Malawi Mtonga - Peoples Party (PP)