Mutharika appoints new MHRC commissioners

President Peter Mutharika has appointed the ninth cohort of the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) comprising seven commissioners barely a month after the previous team’s tenure expired.

Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi said in a statement announcing the new appointments yesterday that the commissioners’ three-year term is with effect from September 20 2026.

Three of the commissioners have been retained from the previous cohort while four are new.

Retained: Ndanga. | Nation

Those retained are Centre for Civil Society Strengthening executive director Viwemi Chavula, journalist and former Media Institute of Southern Africa-Malawi chairperson Teresa Ndanga and Malawi Network of Older Persons Organisations director Andrew Kavala.

On the other hand, the new faces are Lingalireni Mihowa, Orison Chaponda, Godfrey Kangaude and Stella Nkhonya.

The team will also include Law Commissioner Rosemary Kanyuka and Ombudsman Grace Malera as ex-officio members.

Meanwhile, Youth-Decide Campaign has faulted the composition of the new commission for excluding representation of youths below the age of 35.

The campaign’s national coordinator Mwandida Theu said in a statement yesterday that the organisation previously lobbied for at least one qualified young commissioner, stressing that the appeal was not about prioritising age over merit as Malawi has qualified young professionals in various fields who could serve on constitutional bodies.

The campaign has since asked the Office of the President and Cabinet to explain within 14 days why youth representation was not considered, while calling on Mutharika to recommit to youth inclusion in future appointments and the new commission to establish a youth advisory mechanism within 90 days.

In an interview yesterday, Human Rights Defenders Coalition chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa said the new commission should provide independent and courageous leadership in defending human rights and remain responsive to ordinary Malawians.

He urged the commission to focus on the impact of mining and other extractive activities on vulnerable communities, as well as protecting civic space and human rights defenders.

National Advocacy Platform chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said the appointments were an important constitutional step, but the commission’s independence would be tested through its actions.

Under the Human Rights Commission Act, commissioners serve three-year terms and may be reappointed for another term. The law also provides for half of the outgoing commissioners to be reappointed to ensure continuity.

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