The five-year silence appears over as HRDC threatens to shut down the Karonga-Chiweta section of the M1 Highway, but some Malawians are questioning why now?
The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has announced plans to stage demonstrations and shut down the road on July 1, 2026, demanding the immediate commencement of construction works on the troubled stretch.
In a poster published on its Facebook page, the coalition declared “No road repairs. No business as usual,” warning that it will take action unless authorities move to fix one of Malawi’s most neglected roads.
But while the poor state of the Karonga-Chiweta road is not in dispute, the planned demonstrations have triggered a fierce backlash online, with many commenters accusing HRDC of remaining quiet while the road continued deteriorating during the five years the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) was in power.
“Where were you all that time, for the past 5 years? Whom are you fighting for? Which Malawians?” commented Chisomo Gumboh.
Another commenter, Jimmy Ba Villiera, questioned the coalition’s credibility, asking: “Does HRDC have moral ground to demonstrate?”
Gracious Msema also took aim at the organisation, suggesting the coalition had only discovered the road’s problems after the change of government.
Translated into English, Msema wrote: “You are joking. This time your nonsense will not be entertained. What were you doing during your master’s five years in office? Did you only notice this road’s damage in the last nine months? You were busy enjoying the scraps being thrown at you. Who do you think you can fool now? We will see you on July 1.”
However, not everyone is against the planned demonstrations.
Supporting the move, Yohane Yobe Munthali wrote: “Good job, let’s join hands to force the government to fix this road. We are not dead north but this is a wake-up call.”
The planned demonstrations also come at a time when HRDC is battling internal turmoil, with a rival faction led by Southern Region Chairperson Henderson Mhango calling for the resignation of Chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa.
The group accuses Kaiyatsa of illegally holding onto the leadership position beyond his mandate, a dispute that has exposed deep divisions within the once-powerful rights coalition.
The Karonga-Chiweta road remains one of Malawi’s most criticized transport corridors, with motorists and businesses repeatedly raising concerns over safety risks, vehicle damage and the impact on trade.
