MHRC chiefs exit after turbulent term — Mutharika promises ‘new era’

President Arthur Peter Mutharika has vowed to ramp up Malawi’s human rights protections — issuing the pledge during a high‑profile meeting at Kamuzu Palace with the outgoing Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) team.

The Commissioners, whose three‑year term officially ended on August 26, 2026, were hosted for what insiders described as a “frank and forward‑looking” engagement.

Mutharika, striking a confident tone, praised the Commissioners for their work safeguarding women, children and the elderly, and for pushing forward access to information — achievements he said had strengthened Malawi’s democratic fabric.

But the President did not shy away from the Commission’s long‑running struggles.

He admitted the MHRC has been operating under crippling financial constraints, and pledged that his administration would “step up support” to ensure the watchdog is properly funded and able to carry out its mandate.

Outgoing Commissioner Chikondi Chijozi Jere said the meeting offered a rare chance to brief the President directly on the Commission’s achievements, its challenges, and what lies ahead for Malawi’s human rights landscape.

The departure of the Commissioners marks the end of a turbulent but impactful three‑year term — and sets the stage for what State House insists will be a “new era” of strengthened rights protection.