HRDC accuses Malawi govt of hiding behind Covid-19 to violate citizens’ rights

Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has accused President Peter Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led administration of hiding behind the deadly coronavirus (Covid-19) to violate the rights of the people.

Mtambo) 3rd from right) addressing journalists

HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo claimed they have it on authority that the Mutharika’s administration intends to take advantage of the Covid-19 to trample on the rights of Malawians.

Mtambo made the remarks in Lilongwe on Tuesday when the coalition addressed journalists on the new strategies they will take in their struggle to force the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah and the Commissioners to resign in light of the presidential restriction on gatherings of more than 100 people.

“Whether someone likes it or not, no one will stop change. And we are ready to bring that change because Malawians are tired of the dictatorial tendencies demonstrated by the President and Jane Ansah. We are saying Jane Ansah, get out because you have no mandate to be in that position,” he said.

However, Mtambo, who sounded emotional in all his address, announced that the coalition has suspended street protests in respect of the restriction on gatherings of more than 100 people toprevent the spread of Covid-19 into the country.

He said they are seeking guidance from their lawyers on what they can do to achieve their goal of forcing Ansah and the other Commissioners out of office.

“As HRDC, we do realise the seriousness and deadliness of Covid-19. So, we do not want to risk the lives of Malawians by taking to the streets for now. But we are not saying we have cancelled the protests,” stressed Mtambo.

The HRDC vice chairperson, Gift Trapence, said their recent arrest has given them more vigour to stand and defend citizens’ rights in the country.

Trapence urged the DPP-led regime to stop using police arrests to intimidate human rights activists, warning that government risks facing unspecified action should the practice continue.

HRDC  ilipo ndipo idzakhalapo! Kaya kuli mfiti,  kaya kulibe mfiti, palibe kuopa. Tikudziwa kuti Amalawi ena anali ndi nkhawa kuti mwina chifukwa chomangidwa ndiye kuti atsogoleri a HRDC abwerera mmbuyo. Koma tikufuna tinenetse kuti palibe kubwerera mmbuyo pa nkhani yomenyera ufulu wa anthu mdziko muno. [HRDC is here to stay whether there are witches and wizards or not. We know some Malawians had fears that our recent arrest would make us relent, but we wish to assure you that we are not relenting. We are not moving an inch in our struggle for good governance and human rights],” he said.

Meanwhile, the HRDC members have asked government to come up with tangible measures for preventing COVID-19, arguing the current measures were aimed at cracking down on innocent Malawians by limiting their rights.

The members also suspected that government could be using the measures to justify theft of public resources through illegal expenditures.

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TRUTH
TRUTH
4 years ago

Mtambo you earn your living by what you are doing so how can you stop that? I also earn my living by what I am doing by going to work so what can stop me going to work. Wina apusapo apa. Only fools can not understand this.

chataika
chataika
4 years ago

Mbulizi tangozisiyani ndi chifukwa ndimanena mobwerezabwereza kuti malemu Wame said mbuli zophunzira zawononga dziko. He listens to what has befallen the world and that what governemnts are implementing its what WHO advises and not an individual! So eleave him alone ngati akufuna adzipita adzkapakana coronayo koma paja govt has said will force if one rise against this even Ramaphosa in RSA has said the same thing

braveheart
4 years ago

Zitsuru izi zikagwere uko! ndi Joyce banda bwana wanuyo ,gule wamkulu chakwera wantchito wa JB ndi chilima munthu oti wapenga panopa mutu sukugwira .You are the people to be most thankful to APM because he does not waste time chasing useless ass holes like u..But ur time has run out bucause u are being stupidly Xposed everyday typical gule wamkulu doings.Can u really tell kids/people that gule is an animal?yet all these gule people believe gule is an animal how stupid?? a person having an animal as it’s model.kkkkk koma gule abale!

MPHANGALA
4 years ago

Kodi mwati iyeyu anapita ku school? OK ngati ndiwe ophunzira answer these simple questions? 1. South Africa there is STAY HOME order because of COVID 19, KU Zambia, ku Mozambique, Tanzania ndi maiko ena ambiri they have given the same order no more gathering of people more than 100. Mtamba kaya umati Mitambo maiko onsewa kulinso za campiegn ndi chisankho ngati mmene kulili ku Malawi kuno. People are crying all over the world because of this deadly COVID 19 ndiye iwe kumayankhula motumbwa kuti chani? Ukufuna kuphesa anthu eti? Ask Italy today? Ife tidzayamba ma demo COVID 19 ikazatha full… Read more »

Mwahana
Mwahana
4 years ago
Reply to  MPHANGALA

All countries you have mentioned have confirmed cases. Has Malawi any confirmed case???? Your reasoning is very poor!!! You just accept anything because you don’t think!! You assume every Malawian is daft, No Please, there are some thinkers in Malawi.

spinoza
spinoza
4 years ago
Reply to  Mwahana

Do we need to wait for a case first? Kuganiza kwabwanji uku akulu. I guess u r the one not thinking straight here.

Mjomba
Mjomba
4 years ago

HRDC people are dying ndithu, musatengele kupusa kwa a Malawi akamakutsatirani kuzionetsere, anthu amene aja amafunanso moyo wa thanzi, there is nobody hiding behind COVID-19 ayi ndithu Italy inkalankhulanso choncho koma pano almost 800 innocent pple are dying everyday kamba ka dyera ngati lanulo. let us wait untill God will answer. koma musatinamizepo apa, anthu akufa and ndibwino kupewa kadafale mmalawi muno. bwanji inu a HRDC simukukakamiza boma kuti ligule zinthu zoyezera ndikutetezera CORONA wavuta, ndiye KUTI HRDC imakambapo za ndale zokha basi. bwanji simukudzudzula wapanga Judge Kenyata. osatitenga a malawi opusa bwana HRDC.

Aalex
Aalex
4 years ago

Ma Cadet ali pa chintchito chachikulu. Myopia.

Elube
4 years ago

Mr Ntambo mwaganiza mwawu pewani mwawu chitsilu. U dnt love Malawi u jst love the money u getting behind freedom fighter u stupid idiot.

KKI
KKI
4 years ago

Kugwa nayo poyera-yera. Musova. Too much pompousness Mtambo and HRDC ndi acha mbwiyanu MCP and UTM. You need to know that Malawi is bigger than you.

Joloza
4 years ago

Ana ang’ona abalalika asowa choyankhula.

che nnungu
4 years ago
Reply to  Joloza

Galu iwe cadet

Moyenda
Moyenda
4 years ago

Nde mukufuna kutiuza kuti chani?

Nokha mukuti simupanga ma demo and mukuti sanalepheleke timve ziti.

Ndipo musamati mukumenyera ufulu wa a Malawi, muziti mukumenyera ufulu wa MCP/UTM chifukwa ndi amene amakuwasapota.

wakikiki
wakikiki
4 years ago
Reply to  Moyenda

stupid comment kodi a mcp ndi a utm si amalawi kuyankhula kwa bwanji uku

Corona Virus
Corona Virus
4 years ago
Reply to  Moyenda

exactly Everything Boma likupanga ndizoyipa is tthat true????? Mwatitopetsa

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