BLANTYRE-(MalawianWatchdog)–The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has announced the postponement of the demonstrations scheduled for 28th-30th August 2019 due to the Supreme Court of Appeal order which has put a 14-day prohibition to the coalition from proceeding with the planned demonstrations.
But HRDC, in statement issued yesterday evening, says it “will never relent and let Malawians down as such the coalition will soon announce new dates for demonstrations outside the prescribed 14 days of the order by the Supreme Court of Appeal.”
Lawyer Khwima Mchizi representing HRDC said following the Supreme Court order it means that there can never be demonstration on Wednesday.
“The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land, if it has said that there should be a moratorium on demonstrations, there cannot be demonstrations until that period elapses or is revised,” said Mchizi in an interview with Zodiak radio.
Vice Chairperson for HRDC Gift Trapence said thet respect the rule of law and would not be in contempt of court.
HRDC has been leading nationwide demonstrations to force Jane Ansah to resign for allegedly presiding over a flawed May 21 presidential election, which was marred by use of correction fluid Tippex to alter figures on result sheets.
The grouping wants Ansah to resign to pave way for investigations into identifying and prosecuting those who supplied Tippex that was used to alter elections figures on result sheets.
The demonstrations have in some cases been marred by looting and violence.
Ansah, a Judge of the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal, has dismissed calls for her to resign, saying she would only step down if the court found her leadership to have failed to discharge its duties.
Meanwhile, the situation is calm in Lilongwe as Malawi Defence Force soldiers have invaded the planned venue of the aborted demonstrations. Traffic is few as army arsenals is everywhere around the roundabout.
