AG, HRDC Meeting Postponed

A meeting arranged by the office of the Attorney General (AG) to discuss way of preventing violence during demonstration has been postponed to next week following the absence of the key player, Human rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC).

HRDC which is organizing the protests did not attend the meeting, citing the suspected petrol bombing of its chairperson, Timothy Mtambo.

Speaking on behalf of the AG’s office, Loness Michongwe said the meeting has been rescheduled to next week to sympathize with Mr. Mtambo.

“It won’t be beneficial to proceed with the meeting without HRDC who is main player. We are sympathizing with Mr. Mtambo. We will meet next week; probably Tuesday or Wednesday but we will communicate on the exact day,” she said.

The Attorney General challenged the legality of the demonstrations in court but the application was dismissed by the high court.

The office of the AG then appealed the high court ruling at the Supreme Court and applied for an interlocutory injunction restraining the demonstrations.

After partial hearing from both sides, the court directed that the parties and all stakeholders hold a meeting to discuss ways to avoid or deal with violence during the protests.

Over twenty people turned out for the failed meeting that included police commissioners, city chief executive officers and district officers.