Battle for HRDC soul

The Human Rights Defenders Coalition faces credibility questions following a power dispute between a handpicked leadership and self-crowned advocates of integrity.

The coalition born in defiance gained popularity in 2019 when it spearheaded serial mass protests against President Peter Mutharika’s narrow re-election in a flawed poll nullified by courts nine months later.

The demonstrations transitioned to fresh elections in which Lazarus Chakwera became the first opposition leader to defeat a sitting President in a court-ordered poll.,

However, the power shift left the HRDC disintegrated as its poster faces, from one-time firebrand Timothy Mtambo to regional lieutenants, accepted political appointments, leaving the coalition under the leadership of Gift Trapence alongside Michael Kaiyatsa.

Trapence’s resignation has left the group that stood steadfast in the streets when institutions faltered and rallied citizens to keep the State in check confronting its own excesses.

The battle for what Mtambo and Trapence marketed as “a movement built to outlive any personality” is the ascendency of Kaiyatsa as heir apparent and a group demanding elected leadership.

The unfolding power dispute in HRDC represents a test of its identity, legitimacy and the very principles the watchdog once projected with convicti

on.

Amid the simmering spat, onlookers ask: What constitutes legitimate authority within HRDC and who gets to define it?

The self-styled HRDC Ad hoc Committee against Kaiyatsa’s rise to the helm has convened journalists in Lilongwe, demanding “legitimate leadership” elected at inclusive annual general meetings in compliance with the coalition’s constitution.

On the other hand, Kaiyatsa and his backers speak of continuity, precedent and internal consultative frameworks that have historically guided the civil society block.

Just like that, deepening tension is tearing a movement that thrived on urgency and moral clarity, leaving critics wondering: When transition is contested, which framework prevails: written rules or lived practice?

The crisis within HRDC is therefore not just about who leads. It is about how power is constituted, exercised and held accountable within one of Malawi’s most influential civil society bodies.

The clash has spilt from internal whispers to courtrooms.

“Since the establishment of HRDC we have never conducted or held any annual general meeting. These issues are very serious as far as governance is concerned,” Adhoc Committee vice-chairperson Sammy Aaron told the press in the capital city.

The committee has admittedly engaged various offices, including the Non-Governmental Organisations’ Regulatory Authority and the presidential advisor on NGOs, but the discussions have not borne anything positive,”