Human rights defender Mr Benedicto Kondowe was violently assaulted and received death threats following his involvement in the organisation of demonstrations which were held throughout Malawi on 20 July 2011. The event, which was organised under the banner of “Uniting for Peaceful Resistance Against Poor Economic and Democratic Governance – A Better Malawi Is Possible”, was intercepted by police who opened fire, resulting in the deaths of 18 persons. Benedicto Kondowe is the Executive Director of Civil Society Coalition for Quality Basic Education (CSCQBE), a coalition of NGOs that was created in 2000 with the objective of bringing together a number of organisations in the common pursuit of quality basic education.

On 25 July 2011, human rights defender Benedicto Kondowe gave an interview to the Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ) in which he discussed the violence surrounding the demonstrations that took place across Malawi on 20 July 2011. The interview was broadcast at 6.00pm on the MIJ news bulletin and directly afterwards, at 6.10pm, Benedicto Kondowe received a phone-call from an unknown number. The caller, who refused to identify himself, asked Benedicto Kondowe why he continued to oppose the Government and why civil society organisations continued to expose Government shortfalls. The caller went on to describe the human rights defender as a sacrificial lamb who did not deserve to live. The caller stated that he had been monitoring Benedicto Kondowe's movements and that he would very shortly die a painful death as a consequence of his opposition to the Government.

On 19 July 2011, the day before the demonstrations were due to take place, members of the ruling party allegedly took to the streets of Blantyre waving machetes in the air, threatening members of the public not to participate in the aforementioned demonstrations. Although the authorities had already granted permission for the demonstrations to take place, a member of the ruling party sought a court injunction prohibiting them from going ahead as planned.

On 20 July 2011, the organisers of the event gathered at a church in Lilongwe and awaited the outcome of negotiations between their lawyers on obtaining a stay on the injunction order which, if granted, would therefore permit the demonstrations to take place as planned, with the consent of the authorities. The police reportedly located the organisers in the church and brutally assaulted and threatened to kill them for “causing trouble” in the country. Benedicto Kondowe, who was among the organisers at the time, was hit, with force, in the chest and was hospitalised afterwards as a result of his injuries. Those who had gathered to join the demonstrations were unaware that an injunction had been sought to prohibit the event and therefore began the demonstration as planned. Although the objective of the demonstration was to peacefully advocate for change of current Government policies, it turned violent when it was intercepted by police who shot at both protesters and bystanders, culminating in the death of 18 persons, including two children.

On 21 July 2011, President Bingu wa Mutharika called for calm and peaceful dialogue, however, on 22 July he began making public announcements threatening that he was going to “smoke out” the organisers of the protest who are reportedly in hiding.

Front Line is deeply concerned for the physical and psychological integrity and security of human rights defender Benedicto Kondowe, particularly considering that the death threats issued against him took place against a backdrop of increased levels of violence and growing tensions in Malawi. Front Line is also concerned for the safety and well-being of the organisers of the aforementioned demonstration, particularly considering reports that President Bingu wa Mutharika made public statements, the content of which, appeared to condone the use of violent means in locating the organisers.

Front Line believes that human rights defender Benedicto Kondowe, as well as the other organisers of the protest, have been targeted solely as a result of their legitimate work in the defence of human rights.