Tag Archives: HRDC Chairperson Timothy Mtambo

Human Rights, Law and order, Top News

FDH Bank withdraws court injunction against Malawi’s HRDC

Maravi Post Reporter

By Nenenji Mlangeni

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-FDH Bank has withdrawn a court injunction against the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) after a cordial and frank discussion with the coalition’s leadership.

In press statement dated July 14, 2019 and made available to The Maravi Post, the bank’s management clarifies that the court order was not meant to stop HRDC from organising demonstrations on governance issues in the country.

“Therefore, wishes to advise the public that FDH bank remains committed to serving Malawians professionally while adhering to the rules set by the regulator of financial institutions in the country, Reserve Bank Of Malawi (RBM)”, concludes the statement.

Last week, FDH’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Thomson Mpinganjira obtained an injunction from the High Court in Blantyre restraining the HRDC from releasing a report that among others implicates him and the bank in the alleged rigging of May 21 elections.

The injunction stopped HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo, his vice Gift Trapence and other HRDC members from issuing the report dated 5 June 2019 in which they allege that Dr. Mpinganjira financed the 21 May 2019 election rigging plot.

Reads the court order in part “It is hereby ordered and directed that an order of interlocutory Injunction is hereby granted restraining the defendants from causing reckless, malicious and defamatory publication of the claimants through a report dated 5th June 2019 presented by 1st defendant (Mtambo) to its members that the claimants (Mpinganjira and FDH bank) financed the rigging operation by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for the 2019 Tripartite General Elections.”

The order which was granted on 9 July 2019 further states that the claimants shall file an Inter parties Application for the Injunction within seven days.

The HRDC chairperson Mtambo denied allegations that they have the said report.

The bank is said to have acted based on social media reports.

Business, Law and order

FDH bank gets court order stopping HRDC from releasing report

Maravi Post Reporter
Mtambo has since denied allegations that they have the said report.Mtambo has since denied allegations that they have the said report 

By Nenenji Mlangeni

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-FDH Bank Chief Executive Officer Dr. Thomson Mpinganjira has obtained an injunction from the High Court in Blantyre restraining the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) from releasing a report that among others implicates him and the bank in the alleged rigging of May 21 elections.

The injunction which The Maravi Post has seen stops HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo, his vice Gift Trapence and other HRDC members from issuing the report dated 5 June 2019 in which they allege that Dr. Mpinganjira financed the 21 May 2019 election rigging plot.

Reads the court order in part “It is hereby ordered and directed that an order of interlocutory Injunction is hereby granted restraining the defendants from causing reckless, malicious and defamatory publication of the claimants through a report dated 5th June 2019 presented by 1st defendant (Mtambo) to its members that the claimants (Mpinganjira and FDH bank) financed the rigging operation by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for the 2019 Tripartite General Elections.”

The order which was granted on 9 July 2019 further states that the claimants shall file an Inter parties Application for the Injunction within seven days.

The HRDC chairperson Mtambo has since denied allegations that they have the said report.

Top News

Malawi CSOs blame police for shop break ins, looting during June 20 demos over little workforce

Maravi Post Reporter 1 Comment

protesters destroy shops in Lilongwe

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the banner of Human Rights Defenders Coalition officials (HRDC) have condemned the property damage and looting that followed the peaceful demonstrations.

The grouping has therefore accused the police of deploying a few law enforcers on the road to enforce law and order.

In a press statement made available to The Maravi Post, HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo said the property damage which included shop break ins and looting were done by hooligans who hijacked the peaceful event.

Mtambo observed that it was however surprising that law enforcers who accompanied the marchers were just a few of them compared to other organized peaceful protests in the past.

“The provision of the number of the law enforcers during the protests raises a number of questions,” said Mtambo, saying in Lilongwe, the police provided just 15 of them against thousands of protesters.

He said during meetings, the police were informed that the turn-out of the protesters would be overwhelming.

“Surprisingly, the police who were with us, did not enforce law and order and just watched as hooligans damaged property,” said Mtambo.

Mtambo’s comment come at a time when Malawians on social media platforms allege the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cadets were sent to masquerade as protesters but turned to be hooligans to discredit the peaceful democratic protests.

June 20, 2019 demonstrations aimed at forcing Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Dr. Jane Ansah to resign for having a hand on May 21 polls’ electoral fraud.

CSOs including opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM have given Dr. Ansah 14 days to resign but if she fails to do so, more protests will continue.

 

Top News

#Malawi2019Votes: Anti-MEC Chair Ansah June 20 demos set

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has maintained their position of holding nationwide demonstration on June 21 to demand resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Justice Jane Ansah.

This was said by HRDC Chairperson Timothy Mtambo during a press briefing in Lilongwe on Sunday.

The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the banner HRDC are calling on Malawians to demonstrate as per HRDC letter on Ansah failure to manage the election results.

“We are now calling for a nationwide demonstration for citizens of Malawi to be given space to express themselves on this matter. We do not care who becomes president but the question is how. We do not want anyone to manipulate the will of the people for them to lead,” said Mtambo.

According to Mtambo, MEC participated in making the whole electoral process fraudulent.

He cited that the use of Tippex on the results sheets, denial of giving party monitors copies of results sheets and electoral staff found with pre filled results sheets is an evidence that the elections were not free, fair and credible as MEC through its chairperson used to promise Malawians before the elections.

“She did not even handle the 147 electoral complaints in a transparent manner. We want her to resign together with the whole MEC commissioners because they cannot be spared from the mess,” he said.

On 4th June, HRDC wrote the Chairperson of MEC Justice Dr. Jane Ansah calling for her immediate resignation with a 14-day ultimatum.

The letter faulted the approach and attitude in handling electoral stakeholders’ complaints of the results management of the 2019 tripartite elections.

Through the letter, HRDC among other things, said MEC should have explained to Malawians on the allegations that some MEC presiding officers and clerks are implicated in the electoral malpractices.

Meanwhile, MEC Spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa says Justice Ansah will not resign.