Police are reportedly looking for former Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) leaders Macdonald Sembereka, Timothy Mtambo and Gift Trapence over demonstrations linked to Malawi’s disputed 2019 presidential election.
In an interview with The Atlas, Sembereka confirmed the reports saying the police went to his house looking for him.
“Yes indeed I can confirm the reports. Police officers visited my residence on Thursday night but did not find me,” he said.
He said the police intended to reopen a case involving the three activists over calls for an electoral justice march to State House in March 2020.
The Police are yet to comment.
The three were prominent figures in the HRDC, which organised demonstrations challenging the results of the May 2019 presidential election that declared Peter Mutharika the winner.
Trapence and Sembereka were arrested on March 8, 2020, while Mtambo surrendered himself to Lilongwe Police Station on March 10. They were subsequently released on bail.
The charges stemmed from a press conference held at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe on March 6, 2020, during which the HRDC leaders called on Malawians to participate in an electoral justice march to State House.
Police argued that the planned demonstrations contravened provisions of the Police Act restricting demonstrations and assemblies within 100 metres of State Residences without presidential permission.
They also accused the activists of inciting others to break the law.
Mtambo is currently a vice-president of the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), led by Second Vice-President Enoch Chihana.
Trapence and Sembereka have also been prominent figures in Malawi’s human rights movement.
