Commissioners disassociate from MHRC calls for ceasefire

Commissioners at Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) have disassociated themselves from calls issued by the executive director of the state rights body for suspension of the bi-weekly peaceful protests.

Ombudsman Martha Chizama (C)  is commisisoner at MHRC while Nungu (r) is executive secretary

MHRC executive director David Nungu says in a statement issued on Monday the protests will negatively affect the country’s economy and greater suffering of the people.

“These negative effects could be avoided if peaceful means of resolving the current electoral disputes were applied.

But one of the commissioners; Ombudsman Martha Chizuma said the statement calling for the protests ceasefire did not come from the commissioners.

“Statements of such nature originate from MHRC commissioners. This has not come from us. I also saw it in the social media platforms,” said Chizuma.

She said the MHRC commissioners initiate the drafting of such press releases and the secretariat job is to disseminate it to stakeholders.

She said no one at the secretariat had the powers to author a press release on behalf of the commissioners.

“We will discuss this issue with the secretariat when we meet,” said Chizuma.

Nungu refused to comment on the matter.

In the press release, Nungu says: “This being the case, the commission appeals to the organisers of the demonstrations, the HRDC, to consider calling off the demonstrations for now and allow for a reflection meeting with the commission,” says the press statement from the MHRC.

Nungu says in the press statement that while the commission does not want to appear to limit the enjoyment of the right to demonstrate, it nevertheless has a duty to ensure the protection of and respect for all other equally important rights as guaranteed by the Republican Constitution.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
25 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Tuvitwana
Tuvitwana
5 years ago

Joseph Banda ndiwe mbatata. DEMOS will truly continue until the Nation knows the truth on this TIPEX GOVERNMENT. Iwe, olo Ulomwewo, sukuonapo cholakwika on what Jane did?

George Malemu
George Malemu
5 years ago

you need to read between the lines, Chizuma didnt say that she is for the demos no, but the letter was not sanctioned by the commissioners. It doesnt matter whether what Nungu has written makes sense or not but was he authorised to do that. Otherwise he can be purportedly writing letters as if they are coming from the HRDC when it is just an individual, you need to know the repercussions of these unathorised documents.

Maria
Maria
5 years ago
Reply to  George Malemu

Then she should have taken it up with Nungu instead of making a public pronouncement against his boss-its a shame & unprofessional behavior for her

Mbwiye
Mbwiye
5 years ago

It seems this ombudsman lady has a problem. She is all over the place. Today za ma demo, this other time za matractor, kenako appointment of commissioners of mhrc. What does her job description say? Has she not heard about her counterpart in jozi where the pp is now in the middle of the fight between supporters of cr and zuma on issues boardering on corruption? Ndiye amayi on isues of demos you should have just supported nungu or if you are of prodemos that are leaving a lot of damage, you should have just kept quiet. And I do… Read more »

Tariq
Tariq
5 years ago
Reply to  Mbwiye

You are missing the point. Someone wrote a letter without it being sanctioned by the Commissioners. Bwanji kodi?

Angoni apaphata
Angoni apaphata
5 years ago
Reply to  Mbwiye

That exactly is the ombudsmans job. Plus being a commissioner ndiye ntchitoyo. Osati kukhala mu ofesi phwiii. I remember Enock Chibwana ajanso anayigwira bwino.

moyenda
moyenda
5 years ago

My understanding is that currently MHRC has no commissioners. No commissioner has been sworn in. Not even the ex officios.

Ambuje Kukaya
Ambuje Kukaya
5 years ago
Reply to  moyenda

We need to find out from the commission’s regulations then to understand what happens in the case where the commissioners are not in place.

Kanyimbi
Kanyimbi
5 years ago

DPP ikusowa tulo kulemba kalata m’malo mwa MHRC Martha Chizuma wakana & DPP yalembanso kalata ya Judicial junior staff kuti Constitutional Court isapitirire kumva mulandu wa MEC. Komatu madzi akanyamuka simungawathe kuwatsekera njira.

Peter
Peter
5 years ago

True madam ombudsman mwandikhumudwitsa, bola munakangokhala chete,sibwino kunena Kwa ndithendithe. What Nundwe said is the only sensible thing I have heard coming from that organization in months.

joseph
joseph
5 years ago

If this is true that such a constitutional instituted body can do things like that Shame on Malawi.We need the intervention of God otherwise we are a Nation like a snake without head. We will all crush into a dish living no survivor if we are not careful.AMEN.

MAVI PA THAKU
5 years ago

why is muluzi scared to advise jane ansah to step down peacefully ?? Ansah madando 147 is the root cause of all this rubbish — why is she so stubborn that it’s hard to believe she is a church ovesear ! Please don’t lead us into temptations —- go to hell alone !!

ZINGALUME
ZINGALUME
5 years ago

Ndimadziwa kuti awa analemba za mmutu mwao munadzadza maminamo

Lodjwa
Lodjwa
5 years ago

Bwana Nungu akupwetekani Atumbuka. Pano akuchita zimozi agwirana manja.

Read previous post:
Muluzi-initiated peace talks make progress on ‘civil solution’ to protests

Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) on Tuesday has been  meeting former president Bakili Muluzi to find a lasting solution to...

Close