Civil society organizations under the banner of Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) have blamed President Peter Mutharika for making unpresidential, insensitive and embarrassing remarks during the swearing-in ceremony for the commission of inquiry into killings of persons with albinism.

President Mutharika appointed a nine-member commission of inquiry which is being chaired by Justice Richard Chinangwa SC retired to look into issues surrounding the abductions and killings of people with albinism.

The move followed pressure from different quarters of the society for the president to act.

A statement signed by HRDC National Chairperson Timothy Mtambo and Vice Chairperson Gift Trapence labeled Mutharika’s orders to the commission on who to listen to and areas to focus on as ‘shameless attempt to influence the outcome of the Commission’.

“The expectation of the public was that President Mutharika would stick to giving the Commission the terms of reference and reporting procedures and deadlines. Telling the Commission what to do and what to look for is outrageous,” the statement reads.

The statement also faulted Mutharika for boosting of hosting persons with albinism at Malawi Institute of Management during their state house vigils saying it is the tax payer who hosted the protesters when Mutharika was away.