by Paul Akomenji, Malawi, February 1998
THEME = MINORITIES
Towards the end of 1997, Malawi's army and police services
mounted an operation known as "Operation Chotsa Mbava"
The intention was to rid the country of gangsters, but the operation started going wrong on New Year's Eve, when the Army, which had been called in to assist in the operation, pounced on unsuspecting Asians, checking if they had valid work permits and travel documents.
However, it turned out that most of the Asians nabbed were British passport holders. This brought the British High Commission into the picture, which was not happy to learn about the goings-on. The High Commission expressed concern over the way the Army was harassing the Asians, especially when it was learnt that some Asians were being treated with rather a heavy hand.
On 3 January, Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign Development, Mrs Clare Short, began a tour of Malawi, and she was informed by the High Commission of the action being taken by the army and police in so far as the Asians holding British passports were concerned. Mrs Short took the opportunity of bringing the matter up with Malawi's Inspector General of Police and was assured that he would look into the matter.
The whole operation angered some Asian investors, who said they were going to withdraw their investments from Malawi. One of the Asians who had been arrested, was Blantyre-based business man, Sam Sighn, an important person in his community. He was arrested at his office, together with a South African friend, John de Beer, who was paying him a courtesy call.
At the same time, about 200 illegal immigrants from East African countries, mostly Tanzania and Somalia, were arrested between 24-25 December during a series of raids on the Blantyre Resthouse. They were detained in Chichiri Remand Prison in Blantyre, whilst immigration officials decided what to do. They were eventually deported to their respective countries.
"Operation Chotsa Mbava" followed on President Bakili Muluzi's warning that his government would crack down on opposition politicians suspected of instigating crimes. Allegations were being investigated that some political parties were instigating violent and criminal acts with a view to discrediting the government on matters concerning national security.
For their part, opposition parties laid into the President saying he was becoming a dictator. This followed his threats that he would arrest his opponents because they were masterminding a spate of armed robberies. The Opposition insisted that it had been advising the government about Malawi's growing insecurity but their advice was falling on deaf ears. "By using the army which is certainly not trained in enforcing law and order among the civilian population, the President is abusing his power", affirmed the Opposition.
END
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