a previous HRDC. | Nation
Police have obtained a search warrant to access audio and video recordings of a March 2020 press briefing involving former leaders of the now deregistered Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC).
Issued on November 9 2026 by the Lilongwe Second Grade Magistrate’s Court, the warrant directs police officers to search Zodiak Broadcasting Station radio and television premises for the recordings.
During the said press conference held at Lingadzi Inn in Lilongwe on March 6 2020 addressed by the then HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo, his deputy Gift Trapence and senior member Reverend McDonald Sembereka, the trio is said to have solicited another person to break the law contrary to Section 124 (1) (b) of the Penal Code.
“This is to authorise and require you to enter upon and search the said premises, if discovered, to take possession of the said article and produce the same forthwith before this Court; returning this Warrant with an endorsement certifying the manner of its execution,” reads the warrant in part.
The search warrant comes days after Lilongwe chief resident magistrate Austin Banda cancel led ar rest warrants issued against the trio over alleged breaches of bail conditions.
He ruled that the underlying criminal case was withdrawn by the State on October 1 2020 following an application granted by his predecessor, Violet Chipao, now a judge of the High Court of Malawi.
Banda said the withdrawal effectively discharged the case and rendered the bail conditions inapplicable, meaning the trio could no longer be arrested for allegedly breaching conditions that had ceased to exist.
But after the cancellation of the ar rest war rants, State prosecutor Prescott Mwayiulipo informed the court that the State intended to revive the matter, prompting Banda to advise prosecutors to make a formal application.
The trio’s lawyer, Khwima Mchizi, said in an interview yesterday that although the State has discretion to prosecute, it should also respect the constitutional rights of individuals, particularly the right to a fair trial and to be tried within a reasonable time.
He questioned the decision to pursue the matter after the State had withdrawn it in 2020.
However, Mchizi said the defence was ready to challenge the matter in court should the State proceed.
Efforts to get comment from National Police spokesperson Gladys Chiwaula proved futile as she had not responded by press time.
