Malawi court cancels arrest warrants for ex-HRDC leaders
Court records show the case against Timothy Mtambo, Gift Trapence and McDonald Sembereka was withdrawn in 2020.
Lilongwe chief resident magistrate Austin Banda cancelled arrest warrants for three former Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) leaders on October 23, 2026. The State had sought the warrants, claiming Timothy Mtambo, Gift Trapence, and McDonald Sembereka breached bail conditions from a 2020 case. Banda found that court records confirmed the State withdrew the criminal case against the trio on October 1, 2020.
The HRDC leaders were arrested in March 2020 for allegedly plotting to march to State House amid protests against the 2019 election results. Their lawyer, Khwima Mchizi, argued that the case was discharged, meaning bail conditions no longer applied. Banda stated that the withdrawal meant there were no conditions for the three to observe, rendering the warrants unattainable.
Despite the cancellation, State prosecutor Prescott Mwayiulipo informed the court of the State's intention to revive the matter. Magistrate Banda advised the State to make a formal application to do so. Mchizi welcomed the ruling, stating they were prepared to challenge any attempt to revive the withdrawn case.
Why it mattersThe former HRDC leaders Timothy Mtambo, Gift Trapence, and McDonald Sembereka faced arrest warrants that were subsequently cancelled by a court.