By Our Staff Reporter
For close to five years under the administration of President Lazarus Chakwera, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC)—once Malawi’s most fearsome civil society voice—fell into what many observers have described as “a state of silence and inactivity.”
Between 2019 and 2020, HRDC had earned national prominence after leading some of the largest demonstrations in Malawi’s democratic history, demanding electoral justice and government accountability. But after Chakwera assumed office in June 2020, the coalition’s influence and visibility sharply deteriorated.
Analysts and governance commentators argue that HRDC’s quiet years coincided with two major dynamics: a shift in political alliances, and an internal weakening of the organisation’s leadership structure.
A Coalition That Lost Its Fire
Governance expert Mavuto Kondowe says HRDC “lost its critical voice almost immediately after the Tonse Alliance took power,” a development he attributes to compromised independence.
“The same administration they once protested against was replaced by leaders they had openly supported. That blurred their role. You cannot effectively police a system you helped to build,” he said.
Several Malawians have echoed the same sentiment, claiming the coalition avoided confronting issues such as rising corruption, collapse of service delivery, and abuse of public resources during the Chakwera era.
Public Disappointment and a Vacuum in Accountability
For many citizens, HRDC’s silence left a significant gap in civic accountability. During the five-year period, numerous scandals surfaced—ranging from procurement controversies to unfulfilled governance promises—but none were met with the loud, organised resistance that once defined Malawi’s activist landscape.
Civil society member Ruth Chidanti says the coalition’s disappearance created “a dangerous comfort zone” for the ruling elite.
“What we saw was a watchdog that had lost its bark,” she said. “The absence of HRDC was felt each time government made questionable decisions without facing pressure.”
Internal Cracks and Leadership Fatigue
Insiders point to internal disagreements and leadership burnout as additional factors. After the 2020 elections, several top figures left the coalition, either joining government or pursuing private ambitions. Without strong leadership, HRDC struggled to regroup, re-strategize, or reinvent its activism in a changing political environment.
A Possible Return?
With a new political era now unfolding, discussions have resurfaced about whether HRDC might revive its advocacy role. But questions remain about its credibility, neutrality, and capacity to regain public trust.
For now, Malawians continue to reflect on a five-year period in which one of the nation’s most powerful civic movements appeared to fade—leaving many to wonder whether the silence was a strategic pause, political capture, or simply the natural end of an era.
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