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MHRC decries worsening corruption, cost of living

Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has said rampant corruption, rising cost of living and shortage of drugs in hospitals are some of the challenges impacting on the rights of citizens in the country.

The commission’s director of disability and elderly affairs Wycliffe Masoo said this in his presentation on Wednesday at the start of the Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights taking place in Banjul, The Gambia.

He said the challenges are frustrating Malawians from fully enjoying their human rights.

Masoo said: “The challenges have led many Malawians into struggle to make ends meet.

“Apart from that, there are delays to conclude the backlog of corruption cases and this has led to growing public perception that the Executive has slowed down in the fight against corruption.”

However, he commended government for amending the land laws to ensure transparent and accountable administration and management of land in the country.

Masoo further hailed the recent amendment of the Corrupt Practices Act which now allows the Anti-Corruption Bureau to prosecute cases without seeking consent from the Director of Public Prosecutions, saying it will fast track corruption cases.

Speaking at the same meeting the acting chief State advocate Angella Kaunda admitted that corruption remains the number one enemy to the development of the country.

However, she said government continues to ensure that there is a strong system of checks and balances to fight corruption and maladministration.

“Other key checks and balances institutions such as the Office of the Ombudsman and the Malawi Human Rights Commission remain vibrant,” Kaunda said.

The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights is a quasi-judicial body, established by the African Union Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The commission is based in Banjul, The Gambia.

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