13/10/2026
Three former Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) members, Timothy Mtambo, Gift Trapence and McDonald Sembereka, have asked the Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court to cancel arrest warrants issued against them in a case that is said to have been discontinued in 2020.
The lawyer for the three, Khwima Mchizi, has told Timveni Online that the warrants, issued on 7 October, 2026, accuse his clients of breaching bail conditions despite the state having discontinued the case.
Mchizi has questioned the basis for the warrants, arguing that his clients should not face arrest over a matter that is no longer active.
“It is surprising that the State is trying to arrest them when the case was discontinued,” Mchizi said.
The lawyer says the court has scheduled Friday to hear the application challenging the warrants.
Meanwhile, National Police Spokesperson, Gladys Chiwaula, previously told Timveni Online that she was unaware of both the arrest warrants and the court proceedings.
Reported by Johans Mumba