Malawi: 1. Current information on human rights conditions in Malawi, particularly with regard to members of MAFREMO. 2. Information on the state of Orton Chirwa, the founder of MAFREMO, arrested in 1981. 3. Document Number: Amnesty International Urgent Action Reports
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 August 1989 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MWI1819 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Malawi: 1. Current information on human rights conditions in Malawi, particularly with regard to members of MAFREMO. 2. Information on the state of Orton Chirwa, the founder of MAFREMO, arrested in 1981. 3. Document Number: Amnesty International Urgent Action Reports, 1 August 1989, MWI1819, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abf087.html [accessed 17 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Since independence in 1964, detention without trial of suspected political opponents of the Malawi government, has been a common occurrence. [Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1988, (Washington: U.S. Department of State, 1989), p.200.] Freedom of speech and the press are severely restricted, and foreign publications, recordings and movies are censored. The Malawi Congress Party is the only political party allowed to operate in Malawi. All associations with other political parties, such as the Malawi Freedom Movement, MAFREMO, is punishable by imprisonment. [ibid.]
Amnesty International has also received intermittent reports of the use of torture against political detainees and the incidence of deaths in detention due to sickness, maltreatment or extra-judicial execution. [Malawi Amnesty International's Concerns, (London: Amnesty International, March 1989).] According to the U.S. Department of State, Malawi does not permit human rights organizations to exist in the country, nor are they allowed to conduct investigations there. [Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1988, p. 202.]
The founding member of MAFREMO, Orton Chirwa and his wife Vera Chirwa, both lawyers, were sentenced to death for treason after an unfair trial in 1983. After international appeals on their behalf, their sentences were commuted to life imprisonment in 1984. [ibid.]
President Banda publicly threatened to take action against the imprisoned Orton Chirwa, for plotting to overthrow the government, following a raid by MAFREMO supporters on a remote police station in northern Malawi. When MAFREMO was reportedly attempting to sell T-shirts, bearing the face of the leader of the movement, Dr. Edward Yapwantha, in early 1988, Dr. Banda immediately banned the shirts. [Africa South of the Sahara, (New York: Europa Publications Ltd., 1989), p.653.] According to the Amnesty International office in Toronto, Orton Chirwa is still in solitary confinement in Zomba Central Prison.
Attached please find excerpts from the following documents:
Africa South of the Sahara 1989, (New York: Europa Publications Ltd., 1989), pp.652-654.
Various Amnesty International Reports including recent Urgent Action reports.
Various articles from Africa Confidential, (London: MIramoor Publications) 1980-1983.
Various articles from New African, (London: IC Publications), January, July 1989.
