Mtambo pens IG over death threats
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) Chairperson, Timothy Mtambo, has written to the Inspector General of Police, Duncan Mwapasa, lodging a complaint regarding “death threats” he says he has been receiving.
In a letter dated December 23 2019, Mtambo says he is receiving death threats on a daily basis causing security risks to himself and those around him.
He has cited different alleged attempts on his life and property, including the petrol-bombing of his house in August 2019 and the alleged attack by gunmen who fired at his motor vehicle six times in October 2019.
“Some months ago, there was a WhatsApp audio clip circulating allegedly to be the voice of a supporter of the ruling party, who claimed that I, Timothy Mtambo, was destroying Malawi because of the protests demanding electoral justice and accountability in Malawi,” the letter reads.
According to Mtambo, the voice in the audio is warning him to stop [organising] protests because it is not the first time elections have been “rigged” in Malawi and that if he meets Mtambo anywhere, he would kill him.
He further says HRDC is worried because there is no tangible response from the police.
“I am worried because of lack of tangible and decisive police response regarding attacks of members of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition by alleged DPP [Democratic Progressive Party] cadets,” the letter reads.
Mtambo has further requested police to investigate his complaint for a tangible and decisive response.
Among others, the letter has been copied to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network, European Union and African Union.
National Police spokesperson, James Kadadzera, said his office has not formally received the letter; hence, he could not comment on the issues raised in the letter.
On recent gun attacks on Mtambo, Kadadzela said: “Yes, they came to report the matter and the police are on the ground with a firearm expert following the leads.”
HRDC has been organising demonstrations since the May 21 2019 tripartite elections calling for Malawi Electoral Commission Chairperson, Jane Ansah, to resign alleging that she mismanaged the elections results.
Mathews Kasanda is a journalist who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from University of Malawi (The Polytechnic).
In 2015, Media Institute of Southern Africa awarded him the Best Print Media Education Journalist of the Year accolade.
He joined Times Group Newsroom in September 2019.
