Malawi President Mrs Joyce Banda has appointed new commissioners of the state-funded Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), three months after the previous commissioners left office. The new commissioners are: Steven Mkoka, programme manager at the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE); Dalitso Kubalasa, Executive Director for MEJN; Rodgers Newa, Executive Director of CEYCA and Benedicto […]
Two prominent Malawi human rights organisations have described the call by the former governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that government should call for a national referendum to solicit views of Malawians on the issue of scrapping laws against homosexuality as “retrogressive”. DPP’s recently issued a statement after rock superstar Sir Elton John hailed President Joyce Banda for […]
The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and the Centre for Development of the People (CEDEP) have called on Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) to abandon the implementation of what’s become known as the “spy machine”. The human rights organisations through their leaders, Undule Mwakasungula (CHRR) and Gift Trapence (CEDEP) said in statement made […]
We are applauding and celebrating the new PP administration for its efforts to go to the bottom of the challenges we faced during the last two years of Bingu wa Mutharika’s regime. During the recently organised prayers remembering all those who lost their lives during last year’s 20th July 2011 demonstrations, various speakers highlighted the importance […]
Group chief executive officer for Press Corporation Limited (PCL), professor Mathews Chikaonda has again hit at the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) over controversial ‘spy machine’. Just days after labelling the regulator a political condom, the economic expert has lashed out at the institution saying it has no legal authority to implement the infamous ‘spy […]
Background The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) wishes to register our profound concern over recent pronouncements made by some eminent personalities regarding Malawi’s position on gay, lesbian, and same sex relationships. Specifically, we wish to raise our serious misgivings on this issue taking into account applause recently made in the United States of America (USA) congratulating […]
Unless government include high risk groups in national HIV programming and funding priorities, Malawi will not achieve anything in the fight against further spread of HIV, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) alerted district officials on Sunday. CHRR Programs Manager, Timothy Mtambo, made the remarks in Salima on Sunday, when the organization briefed District […]
President Joyce Banda has said prisons should not be “hell on earth” but places where inmates may be rehabilitated and reformed to become productive and useful citizens. She was speaking on Sunday after attending prayers at Mzuzu Prison in the northern region city where she also donated assorted items including foodstuffs and blankets. “A prison […]
The Ministry of disability and elderly affairs has stressed on the need for more studies to determine the extent to which witchcraft is affecting the society. Speaking at the launch of a report titled ‘The Extent and Nature of Witchcraft-Based Violence against Children, Women and the Elderly in Malawi’ at Crossroads Hotels in Lilongwe Friday, […]
Inspector General (IG) of the Malawi Police Service, Loti Dzonzi, has vehemently defended the reversal of the shoot-to-kill policy for police, saying there is no law allowing police officers to shoot and kill caught in the commission of a crime, urging officers to resort in disabling suspects. Dzonzi said this on Thursday when he visited […]
Overpopulation in Malawi’s prisons is set to ease a bit after President Joyce Banda has pardoned 377 prisoners. Banda granted the amnesty on Friday, July 6, as part of commemorations marking 48 years of independence from Great Britain. “With powers vested upon me I have pardoned 377 prisoners,” President Banda announced the amnesty at the […]
This year marks the 48th anniversary of Malawi’s independence. With independence came freedom. But freedom also comes with responsibilities. The problem is that in the past we have focused too much on our freedom, neglecting our responsibilities. But freedom is inseparable from responsibility. If I have the freedom to think, it is my responsibility to […]
President Mrs Joyce Banda has said never again should Malawians die or even get injured in the course of exercising their rights: be it right to freedom of expression or right to association. Banda was speaking at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre where she presented the findings of the report into the deadly July 20 anti- […]
President Joyce Banda has reiterated that as a member of the Commonwealth, Malawi embraces the principles of liberty, human rights and democracy and that it’s new path will be the one that promotes the rule of law, respect for human rights, and a government that provides an inclusive space for institutions critical for our democracy […]
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry on events surrounding anti-government July 20 demonstrations has presented its findings to President Joyce Banda and government insiders says perpetrators of the killings will soon face charges . “There will be prosecution of the violators of the right to life,” government judicial officers said, adding “all forms of arbitrary deprivation […]
The United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kyung-wha Kang, will on Monday 18th June begin a four-day mission to Malawi to discuss a wide range of human rights issues with the Government and other stakeholders in the country, a statement from UN Office in Malawi said. This will be the first visit to […]
The Malawi Government has asked stakeholders in children affairs to come together and share knowledge and experiences to ensure effective realisation of children’s rights. Willard Manjolo, an official in the Ministry of Children Rights in the Ministry of Gender, Children and Community Development said this last week Friday in Blantyre during a closing ceremony of […]
Former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) MPs on Tuesday ganged up in parliament in an attempt to block tabling of a report on July 20 anti- DPP government protests released recently by Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC). The report among other institutions faults the police for using excessive force and live bullets which regrettably led […]