By Our Reporter

A fresh dispute has erupted within the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), with an ad hoc committee accusing the organisation’s chairperson, Michael Kaiyatsa, of giving the public a misleading account of ongoing court proceedings surrounding his leadership.

The latest development signals that the long-running internal conflict within one of Malawi’s most prominent civil society organisations remains unresolved, despite recent court intervention aimed at encouraging dialogue between the rival factions.

Addressing journalists, chairperson of the HRDC ad hoc committee Henderson Mhango dismissed suggestions that the High Court had settled the matter in Kaiyatsa’s favour by rejecting an application seeking to stop him from continuing as coalition chairperson.HRDC’s “Natural Death” Was Self-Inflicted

Mhango clarified that the court did not make any determination on the injunction application. Instead, he said, High Court Judge Howard Pemba referred both parties to mediation after identifying governance and leadership concerns within the organisation.

According to Mhango, the court’s order, issued on July 23, 2026, requires the two sides to engage in mediation within 30 days in an effort to address constitutional and governance shortcomings before the matter returns to court for trial.

He warned that presenting the case as though it had already been concluded undermines the court’s directive and could potentially interfere with the mediation process that is currently underway.

“The court never ruled on the injunction application. The matter was referred to mediation after the judge observed governance and leadership gaps that require resolution. Any suggestion that the case has already been decided is misleading and risks prejudicing the legal process,” Mhango said.HRDC’s Selective Outrage: Who Really Owes Malawi an Apology?

However, Kaiyatsa has maintained that his interpretation of the court proceedings remains accurate.

Speaking in an interview with Nation Online, he acknowledged that Justice Pemba directed both parties to resolve constitutional issues through mediation but insisted that the court declined to grant the injunction sought by the ad hoc committee.

The differing interpretations have added another layer of uncertainty to an already contentious leadership dispute that has divided the coalition for several months.

The legal battle dates back to April this year when the ad hoc committee filed court proceedings questioning Kaiyatsa’s legitimacy to continue leading HRDC.HRDC Threatens Legal Action Over VP’s Controversial UK Trip

Beyond challenging his leadership, the committee is demanding greater transparency in the management of donor funding received by the coalition. It is also pushing for the convening of an Annual General Meeting (AGM) to allow members to elect a new leadership.

Committee members argue that Kaiyatsa did not assume office through an open and democratic electoral process, alleging that he was appointed by former HRDC chairperson Gift Trapence instead of being chosen by the coalition’s membership.

The ad hoc committee further claims that litigation became its last option after several attempts to resolve the dispute through consultations with various stakeholders, including the NGO Regulatory Authority (NGORA), failed to produce a lasting solution.

The ongoing dispute has exposed deep divisions within HRDC, an organisation that has played a significant role in advocating for human rights, governance reforms and democratic accountability in Malawi over the years.High Court Gives HRDC 30 Days to Resolve Leadership Dispute, Hold AGM

With mediation now underway under the direction of the High Court, attention will be on whether the rival factions can bridge their differences or whether the dispute will return to court for a full hearing.

Until then, the battle over HRDC’s leadership—and questions surrounding its governance and accountability—appears far from over.