By Iommie Chiwalo

The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has once more requested authorities including Chinese Embassy to facilitate the arrest of racist suspect only identified as Lu Ke and popularly known as Susu.

The push comes after CDEDI has sadly uncovered yet another tactic and shameless attempt by some sectors of the society, who are trying to defend racist Chinese national Lu Ke by twisting information to suit their selfish interests, and issuing threats to well-meaning citizens who are urging authorities to bring the suspect to book.

In a statement released on Friday June 17, 2022 and signed by CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa says the tactics are aimed at diverting attention of the general population on the sins committed by one Lu Ke.

Namiwa says some misguided individuals seem to have taken advantage of CDEDI’s calls for justice on the matter, and are reportedly busy scheming attacks on some innocent Chinese nationals.

Namiwa feels the conduct is just a deliberate ploy to divert Malawians’ attention from real issues raised by CDEDI and other human rights bodies within and outside Malawi as regards the dehumanizing said videos. 

“It is worth putting on record that the filming incident as it stands is an isolated case by an individual, and not the entire Chinese community in Malawi; therefore, it is not a matter that affects all Chinese nationals staying in this country; hence, we should not use one brash to paint all,” he says.

He has since condemned such plans and those behind them saying by giving the seven-day ultimatum, CDEDI and any of the concerned citizens and human rights campaigners are not in any way calling on anyone to take the law into their hands.

Namiwa further reiterates his organisation’s earlier stand of calling on authorities to desist from any attempts to employ delaying tactics and/or downplaying saying doing so amounts to serious crime against humanity.

He also suggests that since the matter also borders on aspects of profit-making, it is important for relevant authorities to ensure that survivors of the exploitative filming should benefit by way of compensation. 

The CDEDI boss therefore said the zeal employed in blocking South African Dancer Zodwa wabuntu by Minister of Tourism and culture should also be demonstrated in this child exploitative matter.
“Malawians are missing the efficiency of the responsible Minister Hon. Michael Ussi, and the Department of Immigration, including the Malawi Police Service, who exchanged memos until Zodwa, whom the authorities reportedly feared posed a threat to Malawi’s culture, was barred from entering the country,” he says.

Demonstrating that the current one is just a delay tactic, the same Malawi police witnessed the arrest of Erik Aniva after a BBC investigative report and this is the kind of swiftness Malawians expected to see in Susu’s case. 

“It is against this background that CDEDI and all well-meaning Malawians will stop at nothing but push for the arrest of Susu,”

Despite some tactics aimed at diverting attention of state agencies, CDEDI still demands that Lu Ke must be arrested within seven working days, Chinese Ambassador to Malawi to make a public apology to Malawians
and that the Immigration Department, the Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Trade and Investment Centre to flush out all Chinese nationals that are staying or doing business in the country illegally. 

Namiwa says failure by stated institutions to act as demanded, CDEDI wil with no choice but to mobilise the masses to hold peaceful demonstrations until Mr. Lu Ke faces the law. 

Not impressive. Newly appointed Secretary to the President (SPC) Colleen Zamba kept heads of parastatal organizations waiting for a meeting she herself called.

Slated for a 2pm start in Lilongwe, Zamba only arrived for the meeting 2.39pm; that is 39 minutes later. All the people at the meeting were seated by 1.45pm.

“Amayiwatu anayamba bwino koma ndiye atayilira msangatu( she started very well as SPC but she has relaxed early enough)” remarked one of the participants.

Zamba was only appointed almost a week ago to replace Zangazanga Chikhosi and started with a pomp announcing austerity measures to cut down government expenditure.

Ironically, a department within her office defied her austerity measures by conducting a meeting at the lakeshore Hotel although Zamba banned lakeshore government meetings.

“Folks were rushing to be on time and she turns up for her own meeting late, let’s talk about talking the walk or walking the talk.”

“This is the most critical constituency for the SPC to get the country running efficiently, other than Ministers and PSs. She needs to get across the right message in action not words.”

“So if she is late for her own meeting she is sending the wrong signals,” said one of the participants to the meeting.

By Iommie Chiwalo

The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has warned government to desist from employing delaying tactics and futile attempts to shield Chinese national Lu Ke over his perceived racial discrimination conduct.

The suspect is believed to be behind video recordings, that have gone viral, containing racial attacks and child exploitation incidences that were filmed at Njewa in Lilongwe.

In a statement signed by CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa, the organization has challenged both the Malawi and the Chinese governments to treat the matter with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.

 The organization has emphasized that any attempts to downplay the issue or help the suspect to beat the long arm of the law will only succeed in stirring avoidable actions with far-reaching consequences.

However, according to CDED’s investigations the suspect, who, reportedly, was previously charged with human trafficking offences, is no longer in the country.

Namiwa says if CDEDI investigations are anything to go by, it speaks volumes about the status of the country’s security and lack of its seriousness on cracking down criminal acts.

CDEDI has therefore given authorities seven (7) working days to bring to book Mr. Lu Ke and that if the suspect has really bolted as feared; the onus is on the Chinese Government to
bring him back to Malawi to face the law.

He has also demanded that the Chinese Ambassador must make a public apology to Malawians, in particular the black community.

Additionally, the CDEDI Boss has given state agencies such as the Immigration Department, the Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Trade and Investment Centre 48 hours to flush out all Chinese nationals staying or doing business in the country illegally.

“Failure by the stated institutions to act as demanded above will leave CDEDI with no choice but to mobilize the masses to hold peaceful demonstrations against Mr Lu Ke and like-minded racists.

Recently CDEDI issued a statement challenging authorities to immediately work with the Immigration Department, the Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Trade and Investment Centre in tracking down the racist Chinese national, and other like-minded bad  apples among so-called investors who are dehumanizing Malawians.

But according to Namiwa, there has been a lukewarm response from the authorities in dealing with the matter.

He said since the Chinese Embassy in Lilongwe, through a social media post, is on record to have strongly condemned racism while urging a crackdown on such incidences there is need to spell out actions taken against their national or ensure that the video didn’t go viral.

The remarks come after, the Embassy has revealed that they were aware that the video was recorded in 2020.

The video recordings have been made public through an investigation done by ‘Africa Eye’ of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

More stakeholders have condemned the conduct and have asked government to act with speed in addressing the matter by arresting the perpetrator.