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Cashgate report to be submitted to UN

K13.7 billion was stolen at Capital Hill between April and September 2013
K13.7 billion was stolen at Capital Hill between April and September 2013

Civil society organisations (CSOs) have compiled a list of human rights abuses for the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee to mount pressure on the Malawi government to act on theft of billions of public funds, dubbed Cashgate.

Malawi’s report will be reviewed at UN from July 9 to 10 2014 and CSOs are expected to submit an independent report on outstanding human rights abuses and concerns for the past two administrations of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and People’s Party (PP).

One of the organisations taking part in the exercise, Centre for the Development of People (Cedep), said in an interview the Malawi report is an opportunity for the new administration of President Peter Mutharika to address the abuses and concerns without delay.

“We have had impunity where the previous administrations have not addressed the issues. We are taking such issues to the UN as the July 20 killings and Acess to Information Bill,” said Cedep executive director Gift Trapence.

He said Cashgate will be top of the agenda because there is evidence the theft had violated the rights of Malawians to access essential services.

The independence of the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) is another matter the civil society report will highlight as they argue that the appointment of commissioners by the President compromises its work.

Malawi ratified the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) about 20 years ago and is obliged to domesticate some of the recommendations, which include treatment of prisoners and political association.

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