HRDC insists on demonstrations today
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has said all is set for today’s demonstrations to be staged in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba.
HRDC Chairperson, Timothy Mtambo, said the demonstrations, branded Justice and Freedom March, will focus on failure by the police to conclude investigations on the Msundwe, M’bwatalika and Mpingu rape allegations, failure by Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB) to provide names of suspects who allegedly wanted to bribe judges and Malawi Electoral Commission’s Chairperson Jane Ansah’s refusal to resign.
Mtambo said the demonstrators are expected to deliver a petition at ACB to force Matemba to release the names and arrest the suspects who allegedly wanted to bribe the judges.
“This is a very serious matter and should not be handled in a childish manner. Malawians want the names of the people who wanted to bribe the judges so that they know the bad-minded people,” Mtambo said.
Briefing reporters on Tuesday, Matemba said he would not reveal the names of the suspects that Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda mentioned, citing legal reasons.
Commenting on Matemba’s failure to give out the names, HRDC Vice Chairperson, Gift Trapence, said time has come for the ACB boss to start arresting the big fish and not only concentrating on small fish.
Last week, Deputy Director of Criminal Investigations Department at Malawi Police Service, Isaac Norman, told reporters that a team of six senior police officers investigating allegations of rape, defilement and indecent assault of women and girls was given 14 days to conclude their inquiry.
National Police Spokesperson, James Kadadzera, Wednesday asked for more time to consult on the progress of the investigations.
