Commissioners disassociate from MHRC calls for ceasefire

July 23, 2019 Owen Khamula - Nyasa Times 25 Comments

Commissioners at Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) have disassociated themselves from calls issued by the executive director of the state rights body for suspension of the bi-weekly peaceful protests.

Ombudsman Martha Chizama (C)  is commisisoner at MHRC while Nungu (r) is executive secretary

MHRC executive director David Nungu says in a statement issued on Monday the protests will negatively affect the country’s economy and greater suffering of the people.

“These negative effects could be avoided if peaceful means of resolving the current electoral disputes were applied.

But one of the commissioners; Ombudsman Martha Chizuma said the statement calling for the protests ceasefire did not come from the commissioners.

“Statements of such nature originate from MHRC commissioners. This has not come from us. I also saw it in the social media platforms,” said Chizuma.

She said the MHRC commissioners initiate the drafting of such press releases and the secretariat job is to disseminate it to stakeholders.

She said no one at the secretariat had the powers to author a press release on behalf of the commissioners.

“We will discuss this issue with the secretariat when we meet,” said Chizuma.

Nungu refused to comment on the matter.

In the press release, Nungu says: “This being the case, the commission appeals to the organisers of the demonstrations, the HRDC, to consider calling off the demonstrations for now and allow for a reflection meeting with the commission,” says the press statement from the MHRC.

Nungu says in the press statement that while the commission does not want to appear to limit the enjoyment of the right to demonstrate, it nevertheless has a duty to ensure the protection of and respect for all other equally important rights as guaranteed by the Republican Constitution.

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25 replies on “Commissioners disassociate from MHRC calls for ceasefire”

  1. Joseph Banda ndiwe mbatata. DEMOS will truly continue until the Nation knows the truth on this TIPEX GOVERNMENT. Iwe, olo Ulomwewo, sukuonapo cholakwika on what Jane did?

  2. you need to read between the lines, Chizuma didnt say that she is for the demos no, but the letter was not sanctioned by the commissioners. It doesnt matter whether what Nungu has written makes sense or not but was he authorised to do that. Otherwise he can be purportedly writing letters as if they are coming from the HRDC when it is just an individual, you need to know the repercussions of these unathorised documents.

    1. Then she should have taken it up with Nungu instead of making a public pronouncement against his boss-its a shame & unprofessional behavior for her

  3. It seems this ombudsman lady has a problem. She is all over the place. Today za ma demo, this other time za matractor, kenako appointment of commissioners of mhrc. What does her job description say? Has she not heard about her counterpart in jozi where the pp is now in the middle of the fight between supporters of cr and zuma on issues boardering on corruption? Ndiye amayi on isues of demos you should have just supported nungu or if you are of prodemos that are leaving a lot of damage, you should have just kept quiet. And I do not expect munthu wa mhrc to say anthing to the contrary of what nungu has said. Our beloved pp be careful. I think you need an administrator to school you on your responsibilities on human rights matters. Otherwise, I rest my case.

    1. You are missing the point. Someone wrote a letter without it being sanctioned by the Commissioners. Bwanji kodi?

    2. That exactly is the ombudsmans job. Plus being a commissioner ndiye ntchitoyo. Osati kukhala mu ofesi phwiii. I remember Enock Chibwana ajanso anayigwira bwino.

  4. My understanding is that currently MHRC has no commissioners. No commissioner has been sworn in. Not even the ex officios.

    1. We need to find out from the commission’s regulations then to understand what happens in the case where the commissioners are not in place.

  5. DPP ikusowa tulo kulemba kalata m’malo mwa MHRC Martha Chizuma wakana & DPP yalembanso kalata ya Judicial junior staff kuti Constitutional Court isapitirire kumva mulandu wa MEC. Komatu madzi akanyamuka simungawathe kuwatsekera njira.

  6. True madam ombudsman mwandikhumudwitsa, bola munakangokhala chete,sibwino kunena Kwa ndithendithe. What Nundwe said is the only sensible thing I have heard coming from that organization in months.

  7. If this is true that such a constitutional instituted body can do things like that Shame on Malawi.We need the intervention of God otherwise we are a Nation like a snake without head. We will all crush into a dish living no survivor if we are not careful.AMEN.

  8. why is muluzi scared to advise jane ansah to step down peacefully ?? Ansah madando 147 is the root cause of all this rubbish — why is she so stubborn that it’s hard to believe she is a church ovesear ! Please don’t lead us into temptations —- go to hell alone !!

  11. SO MARTHA Chizuma, you want demos to continue? What is wrong with this country. You should have kept QUIET

    1. Bwana Banda, read between lines on the lady is saying. The Secretariat which David Nungu heads only implements what commissioners discuss and agree. In that sense, the Executive Director is a spokesperson not an originator of decisions of the commission.

      1. Ambuje, learn to understand simple issues. The law provides that in the absence of Commissioners, things will be handled in this way. Is Martha the only Commissioner to prevent anything happening. She is behaving like the SA Public protector, now charged by the constitutional court to pay US$62,000 personally. Martha is behaving the same way. Pakakhala nkhani afuna kuipotoza through her OFFICE. This is evil.

        1. Poor comparison. Martha is behaving like the previous PP Madonsela who was fearless and talked truth to power

  12. Nangu seems to own MHRC, why taking decision without consulting other commissioners?

    It shows kuti Nangu wadya nawo Chibadzi and you are not in that commission for good of Malawi but representing DPP interest.

    U just started showing your true colour.

  13. Nungu ndi Mtumbuka wopusa zedi. The guy has for a long time been vying for a foreign mission post which never came. He would like to seize the opportunity to ring the bell and remind the appointing authority to consider him for a diplomatic post. I would like to urge the Commission to demand his resignation.

  16. David Nungu is one big fool being used by the DPP led govt .Tikukuonatu Nungu uyatsidwa pompano ohooooo

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