HRDC at war with itself

By Mayamiko Phiri, Contributor

Internal divisions within the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) have deepened after a grouping of members demanded the immediate convening of an annual general meeting (AGM) to elect new office bearers, accusing the current leadership of poor governance and lack of accountability.

The grouping, calling itself the HRDC ad hoc Committee for Good Governance and Accountability, said it is alarmed that the organization has failed to hold an AGM since 2019, a move it says undermines democratic principles within the coalition.

Speaking during a media briefing in Blantyre on Friday, HRDC Southern Region chairperson Henderson Mhango said leaders from the Southern, Central, Northern and Eastern regions are united in their concern over what they described as prolonged governance failures.

“As legitimate members of HRDC, we publicly denounce and disassociate ourselves from the unlawful operations of the provisional leadership due to prolonged bad governance, lack of transparency and accountability,” said Mhango.

Mhango further accused HRDC chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa and his executive team of disregarding the rule of law and internal consultation processes by issuing public statements without the involvement of members from all regions.

“We are not amused by the continued withholding of key organizational documents such as the constitution, annual reports, and financial and audit reports, which undermines transparency and accountability,” he said.

According to the group, members are also demanding a comprehensive financial report detailing all funds received and expenditures made by HRDC between 2019 and the present.

However, HRDC chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa has dismissed the claims, distancing the coalition from the ad hoc committee. In a statement, Kaiyatsa said the so-called HRDC regional ad hoc committee for accountability is neither recognized nor mandated, and has no affiliation with the official HRDC structures.

The standoff highlights growing tensions within the influential rights body, raising questions about leadership legitimacy, internal democracy, and governance standards at a time when HRDC remains a key voice in Malawi’s civil society space.