Ombudsman Grace Malera says State capture has undermined the integrity of civil society organisations (CSOs) who now face the risk of losing legitimacy.
In her contribution during a panel discussion held as part of the activities commemorating the International Human Rights Defenders Day in Lilongwe yesterday, she highlighted the worrying trend of CSO leaders and members displaying clear political affiliations on various platforms.
Malera said this trend is particularly evident on social media, where some CSO leaders and members openly comment on issues that reveal their political leanings.
“We are becoming governmental ‘NGOs’ rather than non-governmental. Let us put our houses in order, or we risk losing our legitimacy,” she said.
When asked about the impact of regime-sponsored CSOs on governance and accountability, Malera stressed the need for non-partisanship for CSOs to effectively hold duty bearers accountable.
In an interview on the sidelines of the event, Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (Cdedi) executive director Sylvester Namiwa concurred with Malera, saying Malawi has become a dangerous place to live in because those who were supposed to protect the vulnerable and be the voice of the voiceless have turned into errand boys and spin doctors of the oppressors.
He said: “They are shamelessly looking away when the country’s democracy is at stake, as seen in the recent conduct of the police shielding criminals and tormenting unarmed and peaceful protesters.”
In a separate interview, Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) chairperson Gift Trapence also agreed with the Ombudsman, but noted that CSOs have been captured not only by the government, but also by opposition parties.
On his part, Youth and Society executive director Charles Kajoloweka added that while the larger civil society movement remains resilient and credible, there is indeed a seasonal crop of pseudo entities and transactional characters within civic space.
Meanwhile, the human rights defenders have voiced their concern over the shrinking civic space, restrictive laws, and smear campaigns that threaten their work and the principles of justice and freedom.
Speaking during the celebrations, National Advocacy Platform chairperson Benedicto Kondowe specifically criticised the NGO Amendment Act of 2022, arguing that it undermines the independence of CSOs.
