The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) says it has shifted its demonstrations slated for next week Wednesday citing that government has largely adhered to most of its demands.

The postponement of the protests follows a 21-day ultimatum which HRDC issued last month demanding government to address social-economic challenges rocking the nation including fuel scarcity and rolling out of the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP).

But addressing a news conference on Saturday in Lilongwe, the Coalition said authorities have started implementing a good number of demands they earlier highlighted.

Observed HRDC: “We take note that Government has taken steps to address some of the problems that we addressed in our 21-day ultimatum and we hope that there will be no slacking on their part.

“We are pleased that Government has finally acted on the Ombudsman’s directive regarding the irregular and unlawful recruitment of National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Helen Buluma.

“However, as we noted in our previous statement, there are several determinations from the Ombudsman that the Government has simply chosen to ignore or just simply disregarded.
HRDC has however asked President Lazarus Chakwera to reshuffle his cabinet and fire Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) over abuse of office allegations.

“Although we are aware that some of the issues have been addressed, HRDC continue to monitor the situation to ensure that sanity prevails and life returns to normal.

“Should we feel that the Government is slackening in addressing some of the concerns that we have raised, HRDC will come back to address the nation and advise on how we seek to move forward,” said Gift Trapence, HRDC Chairperson.

The Coalition has since hinted that it has placed the Tonse Alliance-led government on probation that fuel crisis will not re-emerge, that there shall be transparency in the recruitment of the new NOCMA CEO and that Chakwera should address the serious allegations made against his SPC.