Botswana opposition, USA hit Malawi for assaulting press

"To us this assault on the press, which we consider a critical guardian of democracy and good governance, was unacceptable," said Botswana leader of opposition, Botsalo Ntuane in a statement delivered in the National Assembly on Tuesday, 26 July 2011, that dwelt on developments in Malawi and how the Botswana government should respond.

US withdraws development assistance

To show its discontent on the matter, the American government has through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), its agency that provides development assistance to countries that demonstrate a commitment to good governance, has withdrawn US$350 million, a five-year compact with the Government of Malawi signed on 7 April 2011.

At the core of an MCC partnership is the expectation that countries maintain a demonstrated commitment to political pluralism, human rights, and the rule of law throughout the life of the program.

The compact is focused on Malawi's power sector and is expected to benefit nearly six million Malawians.

"MCC is deeply concerned by recent events in Malawi and is placing an immediate hold on all program operations in order to review its partnership with Malawi, including whether to recommend to its Board of Directors whether to suspend or terminate its assistance," a two paragraphed statement from MCC states in part.

The opposition collective in the Parliament of Botswana has been scathing in its condemnation of the Malawi government. The Botswana opposition said it joins the rest of the democratic community in condemning the cold blooded massacre, on 20 and 21 July 2011, of 18 demonstrators by the government of President Bingu wa Mutharika.

Unprecedented violence against civilians

"This terrible act of violence against unarmed civilians, protesting the escalating cost of living, fuel and foreign exchange shortages, as well as repression and violation of human rights, is unprecedented in the history of Malawi," said the Tswana parliamentarian.

The Botswana opposition says it noted that even during the one party dictatorship of Hastings Kamuzu Banda, nothing on this scale was ever visited on the civilian population by the government.

"The economic problems in Malawi which precipitated the demonstrations have been authored by a stubborn President Mutharika whose deteriorating human rights record has forced donors to cut off much needed aid," said Ntuane.

As the opposition collective, he said they can rightly proclaim they saw this coming.

"The nation will recall that on 1 April 2011, the chairman of the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) and also member of parliament for Lobatse addressed a press conference in the precincts of parliament announcing a boycott of the official opening of the Lobatse Stadium facility by President Mutharika," he said.

The statement says in a pattern of behaviour which suggested that state violence will soon be perpetrated against the citizenry, President Mutharika has in the past incited the youth cadres of his Democratic Progressive Party to assault opposition supporters who dared criticise him.

Sustained attacks on NGOs

Ntuane said the delinquent conduct of President Mutharika knows no bounds as they noted with concern the sustained attacks on the non-governmental organisations, leading to some activists fleeing into exile because they fear for their lives as well as the media.

Ntuane says immediately after his departure from Botswana, President Mutharika expelled the British high commissioner for describing him in a diplomatic cable as "autocratic and intolerant of criticism".

"We contend that President Mutharika is being aided and abetted in his campaign of repression by the government of Botswana which continues to treat him like a distinguished statesman when many in the international community are shunning him," he said.

The opposition has since pressed the Botswana government to unequivocally condemn the actions of the government of President Mutharika.

They also demand that their minister for foreign affairs, Phandu Skelemani summon the high commissioner of Malawi to Botswana for a meeting at which he will convey the statement of condemnation.

The Botswana opposition also demand an immediate end to the ongoing harassment, detention and torture of opposition and civil society activists; many of whom are now in hiding and they want their government to support an investigation by the International Criminal Court on the killings in Malawi, and for such support to be extended to prosecutions that will follow.