Different groups have expressed mixed views over the Parliaments’ decision to reject a report by its Legal Affairs Committee on a proposal to abolish the death penalty.
During debate on the report on Wednesday, some members of parliament expressed reservations arguing that abolishing the death penalty will encourage the spate of killings in the country.
But in his reaction to the development, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) Executive Director, Michael Kaiyatsa, said it is disappointing that parliament has decided not to adopt the report.
“The majority of Malawians want death penalty to be abolished and it is unfortunate to see members of parliament going against views of their own people because these MPs are there to represent them,” Kaiyatsa said.
Concurring with Kaiyatsa, Centre for Human Rights, Education, Advice and Assistance (CHREAA) Executive Director, Victor Mhango, was equally disappointed with the rejection of the report, however, he expressed hope that all is not lost as a number of parliamentarians are also behind the report.
But on the other hand, Sheikh Sheriff Kaisi, who represented Moslem Association of Malawi (MAM) during the past meeting organised by the parliamentary committee on legal affairs to solicit views on the need to abolish death penalty, said he is not surprised with the outcome from the Parliament.
“The consultations that were made were not wide as claimed and were not satisfying, therefore, we pleaded that if this is taken to parliament members should not adopt and this is exactly what has happened,” Kaisi said.
He further emphasized that he still stands on the view that death sentence must be maintained.
Vice Chairperson for the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament, Owen Chomanika, said the committee will not relent but embark on further consultations.
Before coming up with the report, Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament conducted public inquiries across the country to solicit views from people on the proposed abolition of death penalty in the country.
