Following a spate of security breaches in the country, a call for President Lazarus Chakwera to relieve Homeland Security Minister, Ken Zikhale-Ng’oma of his duties has been made.
In a statement released on Friday, Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) executive director Slyvester Namiwa said the call is made following the recent murder of four people in circumstances that have all the markings of insecurity.
Recently, Zikhale-Ng’oma said that four lives lost in circumstances that have all the markings of insecurity do not amount to insecurity because we are close to 20 million people in the country.
“This is weird, and very unfortunate to say the least, especially coming from a person the whole nation looks up to for protection. Besides, CDEDI implores the President to address the nation on this matter of insecurity since attempts by both Hon Zikhale-Ng’oma and the Information and Digitalization Minister Moses Kunkuyu to address the matter at separate press briefings have not inspired any hope. Actually, the situation out there is that Malawi is now a dangerous place to live in.
“Malawians will recall that on Monday, September 25, 2023 Hon Zinkhale-Ngo’oma, while addressing the media, assured Malawians of improved security, but he ended up making highly insensitive and irresponsible sentiments, not befitting a cabinet minister, let alone one entrusted with the safety of the lives of the people living in this country and their property.
“The careless sentiments were made at the height of grief following the gruesome murders of four citizens within five days in Lilongwe.
“Much as the statement from government was welcome, Malawians expected the President to mourn with them, but he was outside the country. When he returned home it was life-as-usual and, to-date, President Chakwera has not said a word about the gruesome murders in Lilongwe and elsewhere in the country.
“What the people make of the President’s silence remains anybody’s guess. For us at CDEDI we get the impression that what Zikhale-Ng’oma said, that the gruesome murders of four people out of 20 million people does amount to lack of security in the country is a sign of a government that is failing to protect the lives and property of its people—lack of insecurity. Period!
“As we speak, both the mainstream and social media are flooded with heartbreaking pictures of dead bodies and video clips of very disturbing robbery scenes, the more recent one being in Area 3, where a Chinese businessperson has allegedly been robbed of K35 million.
“In Blantyre, recent reported murder cases include those of a police officer who was killed by street kids, and a Malawi College of Accountancy student who was killed after being robbed of his laptop. If these murders are not enough do declare Malawi unsafe place to live in, what would be?
“Hence, it is in view of these trying circumstances that CDEDI gives President Chakwera seven days to rise above party politics and dismiss his Homeland Security minister and, also, tell the nation government’s plan over this life-threatening moment of our nation,” he said
