Our Partners
Our Partners
The Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance (CHREAA)
Bail Project activities are facilitated on a day to day basis by a team of paralegals from the Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance (CHREAA) – http://www.chreaa.org/
CHREAA is a non-governmental organisation, which was established in 2000 and is working country wide in Malawi
“to promote and protect human rights by assisting the vulnerable and marginalized people in Malawi to access justice through civic education, advocacy, legal advice and Assistance.”
CHREAA is led by its Executive Director Victor Mhango. Victor worked as a paralegal for 7 years, before being made Executive Director of CHREAA in 2007. During this time, he has built extremely strong links with the Judiciary, police force and prison service in Malawi and has managed many projects with international organisations such as the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC), AusAID and the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
Nkhokwe Arts Group
Nkhokwe are a group of ex-prisoners using theatre to educate communities about socio-economic and legal issues, in a fun and accessible way. The members received Arts and Performance training within the prison, as part of the Chichiri Cultural Troupe. In 2014, after leaving prison and facing severe discrimination in their homes and communities, and therefore a lack of work opportunities, they began meeting to support each other with advice and prayer.
Nkhokwe has been working under CHREAA and with MBP as Community Mobilisers; using their theatre skills to educate communities and prisoners (on remand and convicted) on their right to bail and how to apply for it. They perform a play that features four arrested men, and their different (successful and unsuccessful) approaches to applying for bail; covering issues about police corruption, the legal process and the consequences after arrest.
The project manager, is Maxwell Makande; an ex-offender who has transformed his life and is now an inspiration to those he works with – “When I first got out of prison in 2011, life was hard. Me and my wife struggled a lot but I knew that through prayer I was changed, and I would never commit a crime again. When Nkhokwe Arts was formed I was so happy. Everyone is encouraging us and we are really doing good in the community. I have a young son now who is going to school and my wife has been able to start a small business.”
IN MEMORY OF CHIMWEMWE AND KUMBUKANI
Sadly, 19/20 brought devastating news of the passing of two dearly loved members of Nkhokwe Arts Group actors, Chimwemwe Foster and Kumbukani Tembo. We have spoken with those closest to them and with their permission, set out the devastating circumstances which led to their deaths. On Saturday 22nd February 2020 Chimwemwe and Kumbukani went to the village to drop off three pigs which Chimwemwe was planning to farm; it was a long planned goal of his to establish a successful pig farm. Chimwemwe went to his local bar with his brother to celebrate, 300 metres from his family home. While there, with people he thought were his friends, he was attacked; we suspect for the money he had on him. Kumbukani went to help him. They were both beaten so badly that Kumbukani passed at the scene and Chimwemwe passed in the hospital early in the morning of Sunday 23rd February. We understand that 6 men have been arrested in connection with their murders. The team at CHREAA are supporting their loved ones in their fight to secure justice.
Both Chimwemwe and Kumbukani were immensely talented actors. Their performances commanded attention, provoked thought and exuded pure joy. Chimwemwe played a particularly integral role in the group and possessed a remarkable ability to energise a crowd, drawing them away from whatever they were doing to focus solely and completely on the performance. His energy was infectious. He was affectionately known as 'Chigaza' because he was thought of as someone who could not be defeated - unbreakable. They had both worked incredibly hard, since leaving prison, to rebuild their lives in the face of resistance and often hostility to their reintegration into society. Nkhokwe Arts Group offered them employment, a space to share and discuss the challenges they faced and the opportunity to do what they loved, performing. We are still mourning this great loss and our thoughts and prayers go out to their friends and families. We at MBP will continue to support the Nkhokwe Arts Group to increase community awareness through their performances.