MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-The United Transformation Movement has condemned the arrest of the two leaders of Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), Gift Tapence and Reverend McDonald Sembereka.
According to a press release that has been signed by UTM’s Secretary General, Dr Joseph Chidanti Malunga, the arrest of the two activists is a political move by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to silence the voice of reason.
” It requires no special intelligence to realise that the unfortunate action by the Malawi Police Service (MPS) is a direct response to the unwarranted and irresponsible orders issued at a joint rally by the Democratic Progressive party (DPP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre a few hours earlier, ” reads the press realise.
While addressing a political rally in Blantyre on Sunday, March 8, 2020, President Peter Mutharika said no one else but he is above the government and so he is going to deal with anyone wishing to destabilise peace and order in the country.
On 6March, 2020, HRDC leaders: Timothy Mtambo, Gift Tapence and others held a press briefing at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe where they said on 25 March, 2020, they will lead demonstrations which will aim at sealing all the State Residences in the country should President Mutharika not fire embattled Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson, Dr Jane Ansah and all the Commissioners and not assent to the electoral bills the Malawi Parliament passed in readiness for the forthcoming fresh presidential elections in May this year.
Gift Trapence and McDonald Sembereka were arrested yesterday while Timothy Mtambo is still at large.
