Malawi: Malawi's Most Famous Watchdog HRDC Faces Shutdown, Vows to Challenge NGO Authority in Court

What the report says

Malawi’s Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) is facing the loss of its legal status after the country’s NGO regulator upheld a deregistration decision, according to a report published by Nyasa Times and distributed by AllAfrica. The NGO Regulatory Authority (NGORA) said in a determination dated November 2, 2026, that the coalition had repeatedly fallen short of obligations under Malawi’s NGO law, with the ruling taking effect on November 3.

The regulator cited missing audited financial statements, annual returns and governance records, including the absence of the group’s 2023 financial report. NGORA also rejected HRDC’s explanations that technical problems, funding constraints and its reporting arrangements with the Centre for the Development of People excused the omissions. The authority said organisations must still file financial returns and keep board and organizational records current, even when they are not actively funded.

HRDC chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa said the group would challenge the decision and continue its planned demonstrations and campaigning. He argued that deregistration would not end HRDC’s role as a civil society movement. The case is significant because HRDC gained national prominence during the protests following Malawi’s disputed 2019 presidential election, which led to a Constitutional Court ruling and a fresh vote in 2020. The report also noted earlier internal disputes over governance and donor transparency, which the regulator said reinforced its concerns. HRDC may seek judicial review in the High Court.