Mtambo, Sembereka, Trapence appearing in court

Three leaders of the Human Right Defenders Coalition (HRDC) are appearing before Lilongwe Magistrate Court for formal charges.

The leaders Timothy Mtambo, Gift Trapence and MacDonald Sembereka have pleaded not guilty to four counts of soliciting another to break the law by shutting down all four state residences in the country.

State prosecution team says they will be ready in 15 days to start prosecuting Mtambo, Trapence and Sembereka as investigations will take five days.
Lawyers for the three accused HRDC leaders have applied for bail, arguing that bail is a constitutional right.

The state, however, is of the view that if released on bail, the three might commit similar offense as they are being charged as evidenced by the address by Mtambo yesterday upon his arrival at Lilongwe Police Station.