The Human Rights Defenders Coalition( HRDC), has demanded immediate resignation of Jappie Mhango (Minister of Health), Mark Botomani (Minister of Information) and all ministers in the now dissolved Cabinet Committee on COVID-19 for abusing the COVID- 19 funds and trying to cover- up the same.
The HRDC says Malawians are not only disappointed but furious at their selfish and heartless behaviour and have lost trust and respect for them.
The organization says the ministers in the committee have not only soiled their reputation and that of the office they are holding but that of government and the president at large saying the only honorable thing they must do, is to step down.
This is contained in a statement signed by its chairperson, Gift Trapence and Billy Mayaya (coordinator) dated 30th April,2020 with copies to Office pg President and Cabinet , Ministry of Disaster, Speaker of Parliament, British High Commission, UNDP and the EU, giving them the ultimatum of 7 days to resign.
In a statenent, the HRDC asks the ministers how does it make them feel to see frontline health care workers lament in vain the need for essentials to effectively do their jobs while them going around the country spending millions that are supposed to buy personal protective equipments for the health providers.
“You have displayed a behaviour unbecoming of the noble and honourable office that you hold. We demand you to stop being part of the COVID-19 response team at any level, refund the money that you and your colleagues have pocketed,” reads part of a statement.
A statement warns the ministers that should they defy their resignation call, they will proceed with their other remedies including demonstrations or vigils at the Ministry of Information.
The HRDC says its Legal Team is on standby should they refuse to step down and they will also be writing the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to institute a thorough investigation into this scandle.
