Malawi

Malawi’s human rights group calls off anti-Jane Ansah demonstrations

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Written by Richard Kayenda

Gift Trapence (Centre): HRDC Chairperson

MZUZU-(MaraviPost)—Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has made a u-turn on its earlier stand to hold nationwide demonstrations on Thursday, 28 May, 2020 to pave way for the appointment of new Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) office bearers.

Speaking at a presser in Lilongwe yesterday, one of the HRDC officials, Reverend McDonald Sembereka, said the cancellation of the demonstrations will only be upheld if new commissioners will be appointed after the expiry of contract of the current commissioners by June 5 this year.

 “We have not completely cancelled the demonstrations, but although it is the case we are also calling for resignation of the remaining commissioners.

“Come 5th June, if the new commissioners are not appointed by government then HRDC is going to announce another demonstrations. This time we are going to march to state house,” he said.

Chairperson of the grouping Gift Trapence also demanded the resignation of the Attorney General Kalekeni saying the Supreme Court faulted him for his conduct in the presidential elections case.

On the coming presidential elections, the rights group has asked all Malawians to go and verify their names in order to vote for the president of their choice.

Apparently, political parties and other electoral stakeholders have time and again called for termination of contract of the current MEC commissioners due to their incompetence as declared by the Constitutional Court as well as Public Appointment Committee of the Parliament.


Maneno Chimulala

I am a journalist, educator, and activist with passion for telling stories about social justice, sports and political issues. I graduated from Mzuzu University. I started my career at the Maravi Post online publication in 2012 as an intern while in college. Upon graduating from Mzuzu University I was offered a job as Sports Reporter because of my background as a goalkeeper and rose to the position of sub editor. I also had a short stint with Nyasatimes, Malawi Punch and Malawi Digest. Over the past seven years, I have worked intimately with rural organizations and communities in Malawi on human rights, girl child education and grassroots development projects. With an academic background in education, I also volunteer as male champion for girls’ education under Girls Empowerment Networks (GENET) in Malawi’s South West Education Division (SWED).