Executive Directors of CHRR and YAS, Michael Kaiyatsa and Charles Kajolowereka respectively have urged the three presidential candidates and their running mates to address issues bordering on attacks of persons with albinism, unlawful or politically motivated killings, rape and degrading treatment of women in Msundwe, Mpingu and M'bwatalika among others.
Kaiyatsa and Kajoloweka observe that the fresh presidential election is taking place amid concerns of widespread impunity for attacks of persons with albinism.
"... Since 2014, the country has witnessed an unprecedented waves of killings of persons with albinism and that over 153 attacks on persons with albinism have recorded with 25 reported killings," reads part of the statement.
On unlawful or politically motivated killings, the two organisations observe that the country has witnessed arbitrary and unlawful killings citing death of Buleya Lule in police custody, a police officer, Isuman Imedi who was killed in Msundwe during course of his duty, brutal murder of Issa Njaunju in 2015 and petro-bombing of UTM office in area 24 which led to loss of three lives of Tambala Family who were staying in the office.
Kaiyatsa and Kajoloweka have since urged the presidential candidates to commit to:
"Expeditiously act on the findings of the Malawi Human Rights Commission's report on Buleya Lule, institute and expedite investigations into deaths of Imedi, Njaunju and others, Tambala inferno and bring perpetrators to justice".
On alleged raping of women in Msundwe, M'bwatalika and Mpingu, the two organisations have urged the presidential candidates to " immediately suspend police officers who were on duty during the time of sexual assault pending conclusive investigations" after elections.
The two organisations have also asked the presidential candidates to address issues on attacks of Human Rights Defenders and journalists.
Malawi will go to polls within 150 days from 3rd February as ordered by constitutional court judges, a judgement which the Supreme Court also upheld.
