The High Court in Blantyre has ruled that rogue and vagabond offence is unconstitutional. The determination was made by a panel of three judges comprising High Court judges Zione Ntaba, Michael Mtambo and Slyvester Kalembera, meeting as a constitutional court. Astreet vendor Mayeso Gwanda took the matter to Constitutional Court challenging the constitutionality of Section […]
The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) has said the year 2016 got blighted by disturbing trends that threatened to wipe away the gains registered in freedom of expression and replace them with the reign of threats and terror orchestrated by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) against government critics or those with dissenting views. […]
Malawi’s legendary Musician Lucius Banda has labelled Malawian Youths as a “Pathetic Generation” accusing them of being inactive and failling to rise up and fight for their freedom and human rights in critical issues. Banda said this last weekend when he performed at the Mzuzu Stadium. The self-proclaimed ‘Soldier for the poor’ told the patrons […]
Human rights activist and social commentator Allie Mwachande has blamed the faith community for losing track in discharging their religious duties. This follows the decision by the Episcopal Coference of Malawi (ECM) and the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) in playing a leading role in organizing the national wide Anti-Abortion and Same sex Marriage demonstrations. […]
The Ethics, Peace and Justice Commission (EPJC) of Evangelical Association of Malawi has urged all Malawians of goodwill to stand up for life and family as part of commemoration of the international human rights day slated for 10 December 2016. This year’s international human rights day is under the theme “Stand up for Someone’s rights”. […]
Centre for the Development of People (Cedep) executive director Gift Trapence has come under attack for criticising the church on the use of children during learning hours in the recent protests. The Episcopal Conference of Malawi and Evangelical Association of Malawi led protests against abortion and same sex marriages attracted learners who were in school […]
The article on Nyasa Times, “Malawi not secular state…” http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi-not-secular-state-says-catholic-cleric/ caught my attention and compelled me to make a contribution. As a pro-life advocate in the just ended “Citizen March for Life” – I am in agreement with Fr. Saindi’s arguments that the current portrayal of Malawi as a secular state is false, in other […]
Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) secretary general Father Henry Saindi has dismissed assertions that Malawi is not a secular state, saying human rights activists are wrong to conclude so. Centre for Development of People (Cedep) executive director Gift Trapence has argued that Malawi is a secular State where religious beliefs and culture should not be used as […]
Two of the country’s vocal human rights’ bodies have expressed concern over the steady return of heavy-handedness among the Malawi Police under the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government in the country. The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for Development of People (Cedep) said they felt compelled to arrive at this position […]
Malawi is rapidly deteriorating into failed-state status and would be declared so failed should the persistent water and electricity woes currently rocking the country not be abated, a local human rights watchdo has said. Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP), a local non-governmental organisation focused on promoting and defending human rights, said in a statement made […]
Two local human rights bodies – Centre for the Development of People (Cedep) and Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) – have petitioned the United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva, Switzerland about the persistent failure to hold to account members of the security forces responsible for human rights […]
Demonstrations are often presented as being motivated by violence which endangers the fabric of our society but rights activist Billy Mayaya is saying the protests allow them to hold leaders accountable on various issues of national interest. Mayaya said every citizen ought to regard demonstrations as a tool to compel duty bearers to act on […]
Nsanje-based Eric Aniva who is accused of defiling young girls in ritual cleansing and pleaded guilty in court wants to change his plea for not guilty and engage a lawyer to defend his case, Nyasa Times has learnt. Aniva is said to have asked to be provided with a lawyer who can represent him in […]
A local NGO has bemoaned the deteriorating health standards in prisons, saying the situation is getting out of hand. Ivy Kwataine, chairperson of Centre for Human Rights Education and Advice said TB and HIV is on the rise again in Malawi prisons. “We need to do something to deal with the matter. When a person […]
Mulanje South MP Bon Kalindo has dug himself in trenches on front line ready to fight human rights activists who do not want the government to invoke the death penalty, saying he will fight them until his last drop of blood. Kalindo, sounding emotional and angry, said rights activist Timothy Mtambo and his colleagues should […]
A renowned human rights activist has cautioned legislators against pressing President Peter Mutharika to send killers of people with albinism to the gallows, saying this is not the lasting solution to the problem. Timothy Mtambo, executive director of Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) remarks follow Mulanje South MP Bon Kalindo who emotionally asked […]
The United Nations envoy on people with albinism has said that sensitization on the rights of people with albinism is the main solution to end the senseless killings targeted at them. The envoy Ikponwosa Ero was speaking at University of Malawi’s Chancellor College law faculty boardroom on during a meeting with law students conducting disability […]
Malawi’s Chief State Advocate in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Pacharo Kayira has said government is committed to see justice prevail over all the extrajudicial killings including those of University student Robert Chasowa and Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) official Issa Njaunju. Kayira made these remarks at the 58th Session of the African Commission […]