I have been following the sad story of a 72-year-old Malawian man who is said to have been left without a nose, an ear lobe and part of his lower lip following an attack by five vicious dogs.
The dogs attacked Chimdima last Wednesday when he was reporting for duties at the Dean Van Schalhwl's residence. He works for Schalhwl as a watchman.
To add insult to injury there are reports saying that Schalhwl illegally obtain the victim’s HIV status details to find out if the dogs did not contract HIV from his blood.
This is a horrific incident. Understandably it has resulted into protests against Schalhwl. My heart goes out to Chimdima and his family. I wish him quick recovery. Media reports say Police have charged Schalhwl with negligence and keeping dangerous animals.
However, my groanings are against the way the media, the president and the Human Rights Consultative Committee have reacted to the incident. I take issue with the language used by the protestors.
President Mutharika is quoted to have said, “I won’t accept foreigners to come here and treat Malawians worse than dogs…I don’t have room for white people treating Malawians like dogs,”. President Mutharika added describing Malawi as “a black country for black people.”
The umbrella body for human rights institutions in Malawi, the Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) has asked the Malawi government to immediately deport Van Schalhwl.
It is important to say that the right to freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. It is commonly regarded as an indicator of democratic development in the wider world and rightly so. And indeed thus what I am just exercising here.
However I don't understand how people can protest while sending out violent hate messages themselves against some people group.
It is my view the president utterances are complete off the mark and that is an understatement.
In a situation like this, where Schalhwl is in the hands of the Police and the courts, I did expect the president to desist from commenting on the story.
Mutharika should have been the first one to place his trust in the Police and our judicial system. It is worrying to have the president go on a rant against “foreigners” and “white people” while the arm of the law is taking its due process.
I further got dismayed with the media constantly describing Schalhwl as “the white man”. It is shocking to read:
“Lawyers representing the white man”,
“there have been fears that angry Malawians would attack the white man”.
For the media to constantly refer to Schalhwl as “the white man” and a “foreigner” is being utterly unprofessional. Where is our code of ethics! Such reporting incites violence against some people. Inciting hatred should be the last thing the media can do.
In a progressive Malawi the rule of law means the people shall be ruled by the law only and subject to it.
The HRCC demands for the government to immediately deport Van Schalhwl should have reference to our laws otherwise such a demand would be completely unfounded. In a case like this, is deportation provided for in our laws?
If deportation for the offence committed is not in our books then it is not law. If found guilty Schalhwl therefore needs not be deported. In any case whether to deport him or not is the question for the courts to decide.
We should all desist from the temptation of stereotyping people’s nationalities, region of origin or their race.
I pray that the media, the president, Malawians and HRCC respect the rule of law at all times. May the rule of law take its course for Schalhwl and Chimdima.
Get well soon Chimdima and with that I rest my groanings.
