HRDC Endorses Lawyers’ Protest

Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has endorsed demonstrations planned by lawyers slated for Wednesday against the Executive arm of government’s interference on the Judiciary.

On June 12, Chief Secretary to the government Lloyd Muhara, released a press statement announcing the said retirement of the chief justice which attracted mixed reactions from different quarters.

In a bid to make sure that the judiciary remains independent when discharging its duties, lawyers across the country have planned to hold protest against government’s decision tomorrow.

In a statement signed by the coalition’s chairperson Gift Trapence, HRDC said it is the judiciary’s mandate to interpret, protect and enforce the Republic Constitution and all laws.

HRDC added that the judiciary has to fulfill its mandate in an independent and impartial manner with regard to only relevant facts and the prescription of law

“All matters relating to welfare and discipline of the Chief Justice are an exclusive realm of the Judicial Service Commission,” writes HRDC.

The Human Rights defenders also stressed that any attempts by the Executive to get involved in the internal affairs of the judiciary is trespassing and capture of the judiciary in Malawi.

HRDC has therefore endorsed the lawyers demonstrations saying it is a justified and peaceful demonstrations.

“We at the Human Rights Defenders Coalition-HRDC- fully endorse the decision by lawyers in this country to take to the streets tomorrow on June 17, 2020,” HRDC said.

“This is a justified and peaceful demonstration of dismay at the conduct of the Peter Mutharika administration, in the manner he has tried to capture the judiciary in our country by illegally changing the existing structure of the leadership in the justice delivery system for his personal political interests.”