National Security
The MCP government pursued security as a process of defending state interests or top leadership of the party and government. This narrow perception of security in the last three decades, has led to the rapid growth of secret security institutions which owe allegiance not to the state but to a few individuals. The security institutions themselves, far from providing security for the state and its leadership generated more insecurity because of their secretive, closed and undemocratic structures which are not accountable to the public.
The net result of this closed security has been gross violation of human rights, abuse of power and office by the leadership, inefficient utilization of precious resources, and perpetual insecurity for the state itself. The perpetual sense of insecurity of the state in turn led to the creation of the most oppressive regime in independent Southern Africa. Thousands of Malawians disappeared without trace and thousands more rotted in the most inhuman detention centres across this nation. Our experience in the last three decades has disfigured our national outlook; we are now more inclined to fear government instead of respecting its authority; we are always suspicious of its intentions and that of those entrusted with public office.
All arms of the state are viewed as oppressors and not agents of authority in the common good for the entire society. The challenge for a democratic Malawi is not only to address these deep seated structural defects but to redefine the whole security problem. The one party dictatorship, lack popular participation in decision making, the abuse of human rights and poverty can equally be a source of insecurity for both the state and ordinary people.
NARC’S Government believes that security is not about spying on ones own citizens, torturing and terrorising the people, police action or show of military might as the MCP has made Malawians to understand. Security encompasses a wide range of human endeavour; it has political, domestic and external, economic, and social dimensions.
NARC’S Government is committed to a security system based on the resolution of all conflicts, domestic or international by peaceful means. National security will therefore be sought primarily through national efforts to meet the genuine economic, social and political needs of all Malawians. In pursuance of this broad objective NARC’S will ensure that all security institutions operate within the provision of the National Constitution which will guarantee that they are accountable and answerable to parliament.
1. Defense and Armed Forces
New Labour believes that the national army must enjoy full legitimacy in the eyes of the public. The primary role of the Malawi defense force is to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country against external aggression.
To fulfill this responsibility, NARC’S Government will:
1. Maintain the defense potential of the defence forces at appropriate levels to meet the needs of a democratic society.
2. Ensure that the defence forces operate on internationally acceptable ethical standards.
3. Improve the conditions of service of the armed forces.
4. Improve training programmes and facilities so that the army performs its duties efficiently and effectively.
5. Ensure that the Forces under the Ministry of Defence respect and uphold the national constitution and remain neutral in all political matters.
6. Ensure that in time of peace they are involved in civil and development works.
2. Police
NARC’S Government recognizes police work as vital for the safety of the community, the prevention and investigation of crime, the upholding of the law and maintenance of good order under the Constitution. It is NARC’S Government's strong belief that the primary function of the police is to guarantee the personal security of all citizens and residents in the country and to ensure that they freely and peacefully exercise their rights as provided for in the constitution. In pursuance of these objectives, NARC’S Government will:
1. Take steps to ensure that the police service fully respect the Bill of Rights as enshrined in the constitution.
2. Make the police fully accountable to the public through parliament, all democratically elected authorities and the courts.
3. Promulgate laws to protect the police from being used as tools by political leaders and to safeguard their image and function as law enforcement officers.
4. Institutionalize procedures to ensure that the police carry out their duties primarily through non-violent means.
5. Introduce public awareness programmes for the community to become better acquainted with police work.
6. Provide sufficient resources to the police for the acquisition of equipment and other facilities to enable them respond speedily and effectively to citizens needs.
7. Pen public debate and scrutiny.
8. Work for the improvement of the conditions of service of the police in order to enhance their ability to prevent crime and safeguard life and property.
9. Organise continuous and intensive training programmes for the police in human rights law and community relations.
10. Remove the control of prisons from the police in order that the police should only be protectors and guardians of the law and not responsible for administering punishment.
3. Security Intelligence Service or Special Branch NARC’S PARTY
Government strongly believes that the role of intelligence gathering arms (SIS or SB) of the state is not to terrorise, torture or brutalise the people, or to deter Malawians from enjoying their basic freedoms as provided for in the constitution.
The function of SIS or SB will be to gather and evaluate information that pertains to the security of the people and the state. In full recognition of this important function, NARC PARTY Government will:
1. Take full measures to ensure that the activities of all intelligence gathering institutions of the state are non-partisan and that they are regulated by adequate legal provisions in accord with the Bill of Rights as enshrined in the constitution.
2. Ensure that all intelligence agencies respect the rights of all Malawians to engage in lawful political activity.
3. Ensure that all intelligence agencies are accountable to parliament.
4. Take steps to ensure that the intelligence agencies conduct their activities through non-violent means.
4. Prisons
Recognising that untold brutalities have been committed in Malawi prisons, NARC’S PARTY Government believes that once in power prisons should be restructured and reoriented to take into account the need to uphold human rights and human dignity. In pursuance of this new approach, NARC PARTY Government will:
1. Promulgate laws to provide for the independence of prisons from the police. This will safeguard the integrity of both the police and the prison services.
2. Ensure that prisons will not be allowed to take any person except on the order of a Court of competent jurisdiction.
3. Take steps to ensure that Prisons under NARC PARTY Government will be places for reform and rehabilitation of offenders and will under no circumstances be used as places of torture or for the disposal of political opponents.
4. Improve the welfare and conditions of service of prison staff.
Personal Security
The security of the person, family and property are basic prerequisites to build confidence in the state and all its organs and provide an enabling environment for sustained socio-economic progress. The principle of the Rule of Law and Due Process are essential for the protection and security of persons, families and property. In order to promote and sustain the Rule of Law NATIONAL RAINBOW COALITION (NARC’S) PARTY Government will ensure that the Constitution of the Nation shall provide:
1. For the establishment of an independent and impartial Judiciary with guarantees for security of tenure and non-interference from any person or office in the performance of its duties.
2. That all persons shall have the right to trial by a jury or their peers in all matters.
3. That no person shall be deprived of their liberties and property without due process of law.
4. That no person shall be subject to arrest, searches and seizures without due process of law.
5. For a guaranteed right of access to the Courts and to counsel of one’s choice.
6. That the Courts shall be the final arbiters on the legality of all laws and all acts of the state.