…tells Kaiyatsa and his team to stop operating as national leadership…
After re-emerging to loudly lecture the government on transparency and accountability following a five-year slumber, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) is now facing questions from within, with members challenging the legitimacy, governance, and continued operation of its leadership.
Concerned HRDC members from the Southern, Northern, and Eastern regions have condemned the organisation’s board and provisional leadership for failing to convene an Annual General Meeting (AGM) since 2019, describing the situation as a serious breach of governance, transparency, and legal obligations.
Speaking at a press briefing in Blantyre, chairperson of the HRDC concerned members, Henderson Mhango said the prolonged failure to hold an AGM undermines the very principles HRDC was founded to defend.
“We strongly condemn the failure of the HRDC board and provisional leadership to convene an Annual General Meeting from 2019 to date, a development that undermines accountability, transparency, and democratic governance within the organisation,” reads the statement.
Mhango said they have formally denounced and disassociated themselves from what they describe as the unlawful operation of the current provisional leadership, citing prolonged bad governance, lack of transparency, and impunity.
At the centre of the dispute is Michael Kaiyatsa, whom the members accuse of positioning himself as leader alongside what they term a self-imposed team, without broad consultation across the organisation’s regional structures.
“We note with concern that Mr Michael Kaiyatsa continues to issue public statements and run the affairs of HRDC without full consultation of members across all regions,” the statement adds.
The members allege that key organisational documents, including the HRDC Constitution, annual reports, and audited financial statements, have been withheld from members.
On leadership renewal, the members expressed concern that HRDC has held only one elective conference since 2018, which took place at Ryalls Hotel in Blantyre, describing the situation as evidence of entrenched leadership and weak internal democracy.
The members also questioned the manner in which leadership transitioned from former chairperson Gift Trapence to Kaiyatsa, alleging that the process lacked transparency and broad-based endorsement.
On financial accountability, the members claim they have not been given an opportunity to review or approve annual financial statements for several years.
“Members have not been allowed to review, approve, or question financial statements for any year from 2018 to date, which is unacceptable for an organisation that champions human rights and good governance,” the statement says.
As part of their demands, the concerned members have given the HRDC board and provisional leadership 14 days to convene an AGM or issue notice for an extraordinary general meeting. They are also demanding that all project activities, public fundraising, and financial transactions be halted until legitimate leadership is elected through a democratic process.
“Unless an AGM or extraordinary general meeting is convened within 14 days, we reserve the right to lodge formal complaints with the NGO Regulatory Authority and the Registrar of Companies,” the members warned.
They further called on Kaiyatsa and his team to stop operating as national leadership and declared all press briefings and public statements issued under the current leadership as invalid.
