The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) Women Chapter has clarified on the calls for the resignation of embattled Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Jane Ansah that it is not an issue of gender but her as a professional.

Addressing a new conference in Lilongwe on Saturday, HRDC member Mphatso Jumbe said the anti-Ansah protesters are questioning her office not her capacity as a woman.

“For us as women, when we participate, we participate as citizens, as leaders, and when we participate as a leader, we are also taking into account as a leader,” she said.

On Wednesday last week thousands of women under the banner Forum for Concerned Women Association (FCWA) took to the streets of Blantyre in a pro-Ansah demonstration citing that people are calling for resignation of Justice Ansah because she is a woman.

In an interview with YFM, Jumbe has questioned the applicability of gender-based violence into the calls for resignation of Justice Ansah.

“The concerns that Malawians are saying are basically saying we don’t trust the system, and her she is part of the system, not as a woman, but a professional, so then people are asking questions against the office, not her as a person,” Jumbe said.

The HRDC Women Chapter has however condemned demeaning messages that some people are portraying against Justice Ansah referring to that they are violating her rights and doing so is illicit.

Meanwhile, the HRDC has announced that it will be holding demonstrations every Tuesdays and Fridays for the three next three weeks in a bit to pave way for resignation of the MEC Chairperson.