The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) says its members are under increasing threats in the aftermath of May 21 elections.

Speaking to members of the press in Lilongwe on Thursday, HRDC member, Luke Tembo said members of the coalition have been receiving series of threats from different quarters for defending rights of Malawians.

Tembo said the petrol bombing of HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo’s residence in the wee hours of Thursday by suspected DPP cadets is just an example of attacks of the coalition.

“Looking at the trend of threats that we have received as Human Rights Defenders Coalition, we are suspecting that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party has a hand especially their cadets,” said Tembo.

HRDC has therefore, called on the Malawi police to launch an immediate investigation on the arson at Mtambo’s residence, despite giving the Service a doubt of benefit.

“We suspect them and we are calling upon the Malawi Police Service to do their job, they came to the house of Mr Mtambo, they did taking of the statements and we hope they are going to do their job, we  also need to highlight that as HRDC we kind of lots trust in the Malawi Police,” said Tembo.

However, the HRDC has given the Police a single day to investigate the issue and bring the perpetrators to book, citing that they know the individuals behind the attack.

But speaking earlier to YFM Online in an interview, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) through its spokesperson Nicholas Dausi has distanced the party from being involved in the attack.

The development follows a few days just after the HRDC confirmed plans to shut down the country’s airports and borders for a period of one week as their next move in a bit to call for the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Justice Jane Ansah.