Kwataine resigns as MEHN boss

Influential female human rights activist Martha Kwataine has resigned from her position as executive director of Malawi Health Equity Network (Mehn) and is heading to an international NGO, ActionAid.

She told a local radio on Wednesday that she resigned at MEHN, an organisation she founded nine years ago in October and was serving notice as her former organisation struggles to get suitable replacement.

Kwataine’s leaving of rights activism leaves Billy Mayaya alone in the struggle against injustices by the government as other activists are muted.

Other vocal fearless activists however are Timothy Mtambo of Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation and Gift Trapence a gay rights activist.

“Am still an activist. Activism is not the position you are holding but it is in-born,” said Kwataine in the radio interview.

However, local commentators say she will now be bound by international rules that discourage members of staff from commenting on local politics.

Kwataine said she is leaving MEHN, reputable health issues coordinating local nongovernmental organisation, a happy person after grooming it from an unknown entity to a vibrant employer of 19 from just three nine years ago.

“This shows that every woman can deliver. I have taken MEHN from the unknown to where it is now. Am leaving an organisation that has grown from three employees to 19,” said Kwataine.

Kwataine had been one of the vocal voices during the Bingu wa Mutharika regime but kept a low profile during the Joyce Banda administration that offered her chairmanship at the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority.