BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)–The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has disclosed that it is engaging its lawyers on the way forward following government’s order to close borders for 14 days.
On 22 December, Government announced new Covid-19 restrictions which among others saw the closure of all borders as well as limiting the number of people in public gatherings to 100.
But reacting to the closure, Macdonald Sembereka, an Executive member of HRDC says as a human rights lobby group, they feel the closure is an infringement on people’s right to movement.
According to Sembereka, government was supposed to consult the citizenry before imposing such an order.
Meanwhile, Sembereka has told the country’s media that the grouping is engaging its lawyer on the possibility of challenging government’s decision.
But Homeland Security Minister Richard Chimwendo Banda has said the government will reinforce the law to make sure that the general public complies with the new Covid19 measures such as not having more than 100 people per gathering.
Banda says police will be visiting gatherings such as music shows so that people in attendance should not exceed 100.
Prophet Shepherd Bushiri who was supposed to hold mega Cross-over night on 31 December has also resorted to holding the cross-over online in the wake of the second wave of Covid-19.