Malawi: Mutharika Names Nine New Commissioners for Malawi's Human Rights Watchdog - Ndanga Reappointed

What the report says

President Peter Mutharika has named nine people to the Ninth Cohort of Malawi’s Human Rights Commission, according to a Nyasa Times report carried by AllAfrica. The appointments took effect on September 20, 2026, and are set for a three-year term. The new commissioners include Orison Joseph Themba Chaponda, Viwemi Chavula, Godfrey Dalitso Kangaude, Andrew Kavala, Lingalireni Mihowa, Teresa Chirwa Ndanga and Stella Nkhonya.

The report says the law commissioner and the ombudsman also sit on the body automatically because of their offices. Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi confirmed the appointments and said they were made in line with Section 131(2) of Malawi’s Constitution. He also said the names would be published in the Government Gazette, which is part of the formal legal process for such appointments.

Teresa Chirwa Ndanga was reappointed after serving on an earlier commission cohort. The move comes as the government faces pressure to strengthen the watchdog’s capacity. The article says Mutharika has acknowledged that the commission has been underfunded and has promised to address that challenge. The Malawi Human Rights Commission is tasked with promoting human rights awareness and investigating alleged violations, making the new appointments relevant to oversight and rights protection in the country.