After five years at the helm of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), Gift Trapence has officially handed over leadership to his deputy, Michael Kaiyatsa, marking the end of a chapter defined by bold activism and unwavering advocacy for human rights in Malawi.
Trapence, who took over from Timothy Mtambo in 2020, leaves behind a legacy of resilience and fearless leadership that saw HRDC stand up to government excesses and champion some of the most defining democratic reforms in recent years.
Trapence
Under his leadership, the Coalition successfully pushed for the 51+1 electoral threshold, a reform that reshaped Malawi’s political landscape.
He also led HRDC in challenging the government’s Covid-19 lockdown plan in court an action that safeguarded the rights of vulnerable citizens during the pandemic.
Reflecting on his tenure, Trapence said it was both challenging and rewarding.
“The push for the 51+1 percent requirement in presidential elections was a great win for our democracy.Equally, the injunction against lockdown during Covid-19 taught us that the law must remain central, especially when protecting the poor and the vulnerable,”he explained.
However, his time at HRDC was not without turbulence. Several members of the Coalition, including Trapence himself, faced arrests, intimidation and political pressure for their activism. Despite these challenges, he says HRDC remained steadfast in defending democratic values.
Incoming chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa, who also heads the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), said his priority will be to rebuild public confidence in HRDC and strengthen its moral voice in society.
“My focus will be on rebuilding credibility through principled, non-partisan advocacy, standing firmly with the people, and holding all duty bearers accountable,” said Kaiyatsa.
Vice President Dr. Jane Mayemu Ansah, SC JA (Retired), on Saturday joined hundreds of participants in the Queens in Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, an annual event dedicated to promoting breast cancer awareness, early diagnosis, and public education on women’s health.
The walk began at the Kamuzu Central Interchange in Lilongwe and ended at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) Amphitheatre, where participants gathered for reflections, speeches, and health education sessions.
Ansah
Clad in pink attire — the universal color symbolizing breast cancer awareness — the Vice President walked alongside cancer survivors, health professionals, civil society groups, and ordinary citizens, demonstrating solidarity with women and families affected by the disease.
The event, organized under the Queens in Pink initiative, aimed to remind Malawians of the importance of early screening and regular medical checkups as key steps in saving lives. It also provided a platform to celebrate survivors and remember those who have lost their battle with breast cancer.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Dr. Ansah commended the organizers for their continued commitment to raising awareness about breast cancer and other non-communicable diseases. She emphasized that increasing public understanding and removing stigma associated with cancer are vital to improving Malawi’s health outcomes.
She further urged communities to prioritize preventive health practices and to support those undergoing treatment, highlighting that compassion and community involvement are essential in fighting cancer effectively.
Health experts at the event echoed the Vice President’s sentiments, stressing that breast cancer, when detected early, is treatable. They encouraged both men and women to take responsibility for their health by seeking screening services regularly.
The march concluded with entertainment, testimonies from survivors, and educational booths offering information about cancer prevention, screening locations, and treatment support.
Dr. Ansah’s participation added prominence to the event, reinforcing the message that leadership and public awareness must go hand in hand in addressing health challenges facing the nation.
The Queens in Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Walk once again demonstrated that collective action, awareness, and compassion remain powerful tools in reducing the impact of breast cancer in Malawi.
The Development Media International DMI) is set to implement Maternal Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) project to improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes in Malawi through a targeted Social Behavior Change (SBC) radio campaign.
The DMI designs and implements evidence- based Social Behavior Change (SBC) campaign to improve and save lives working in Malawi, Burkina Faso, Cote d’ivoire, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mozambique, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
The campaign will be delivered solely through radio broadcasting 35 spots in two languages (Chichewa and Tumbuka) in three selected districts based on poor indicators and good radio listenership in Karonga, Dowa, and Mangochi.
Presenting the project to the District executive committee (Dec) in Dowa, DMI’s Senior Research Manager Stephen Kumwenda, said this campaign will educate and empower communities on essential MNCH practices, promote positive health behaviors and reduce preventable maternal and child deaths.
Kumwenda said the organization will conduct formative research to understand the behavior in context, developing campaign content as well as a message and distribution, pretesting developed materials with target audience and implementing intensive broadcasting including monitoring and evaluation.
He said the campaign is expected to promote early and consistent antenatal care (ANC) visits among pregnant women, increased usage of insecticide- treated nets during pregnancy, promotion of exclusive breastfeeding, and improved early detection and treatment of diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria in children Under- Five.
“The campaign will use national and regional radio stations including MBC 1, MBC 2, Zodiak, Radio Maria, Radio Islam and Tuntufye with Africa Media Monitoring Agency helping to monitor broadcasts by the radio stations,” said Kumwenda.
In his remarks, Dowa District Council’s Chief Administrative Officer Mathews Mkandawire, called on partners implementing various interventions in the district to share progress reports of activities to the council.
Mkandawire proposed to the Dec that partners implementing new projects should sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the council and the CSO Network for the district before they go to the field for their projects to enhance cooperation, transparency and accountability.
Trinity College of Health Sciences has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Malawi’s healthcare system through the introduction of new training programmes and expansion of existing ones.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony in Blantyre on Friday,The college’s Principal Godrick Chipondeponde said the institution is on a steady path of growth and transformation aimed at producing well-trained and professional healthcare workers who will serve communities across the country.
Godrick Chipondeponde
“This graduation means a lot to us. The institution is growing, and we are very happy with the pace we are taking,” he said.
During this year’s ceremony, 81 nurses and midwives technicians, 10 food and nutrition students, and 25 public health assistants graduated.
The Principal described the milestone as a clear demonstration of the college’s continued progress and its positive impact on Malawi’s health sector.
He said founded in 1964, Trinity College of Health Sciences has trained thousands of health professionals who have served in hospitals and clinics nationwide.
Chipondeponde noted that the institution has always adapted to the country’s needs by expanding its intake whenever demand for healthcare workers increased.
“We respond to the needs of the country. When Malawi required more nurses, we increased our intakes. Our graduates are contributing significantly to their families, communities, and the nation,” he said.
Chipondeponde revealed that the college is diversifying beyond its traditional focus on nursing and midwifery training. It now offers additional health-related courses and plans to roll out more in the coming years.
“We already have a Biomedical Sciences programme accredited by the Medical Council of Malawi(MCM), and we have successfully enrolled three intakes so far.We are also preparing to introduce a Diploma in Nursing , a Diploma in Community Health Nursing, and a Certificate in Pharmacy.The curriculum for the nursing programmes has already been approved by the Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi(NMCM), and we expect these new courses to start in 2026,” he said.
The Principal added that the college operates two enrollment streams each year, in January and October, and occasionally in April, to meet growing student demand.
Chipondeponde also praised Trinity College students for their professionalism during clinical attachments, emphasizing the institution’s strong focus on ethics and discipline.
“We get very positive feedback from hospitals and clinics where our students go for practical training. We ensure they maintain professionalism and adhere to ethical standards as prescribed by the Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi,” he said.
On her part,one of the graduates, Maness Mateyu,expressed joy and pride after successfully completing her Diploma in Public Health, describing her academic journey as long but rewarding despite the challenges faced along the way.
Mateyu said her experience at the institution was marked by determination and perseverance, particularly in adapting to the difficult learning conditions in Nsanje district where the Trinity College of Health Sciences is based.
“I feel so good because it has been a long journey.The weather conditions in Nsanje are not very friendly for students. It is often very hot, and sometimes it becomes hard to study in the mornings, even when you have planned your timetable,” she said.
Despite these obstacles,Mateyu said she remained focused on her studies and is proud to have achieved her dream of becoming a public health professional.
“I am grateful to the college and to my lecturers for their support throughout my studies. This qualification means a lot to me, my family, and my community,” she said.
Trinity College of Health Sciences has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Malawi’s healthcare system through the introduction of new training programmes and expansion of existing ones.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony in Blantyre on Friday,The college’s Principal Godrick Chipondeponde said the institution is on a steady path of growth and transformation aimed at producing well-trained and professional healthcare workers who will serve communities across the country.
Godrick Chipondeponde
“This graduation means a lot to us. The institution is growing, and we are very happy with the pace we are taking,” he said.
During this year’s ceremony, 81 nurses and midwives technicians, 10 food and nutrition students, and 25 public health assistants graduated.
The Principal described the milestone as a clear demonstration of the college’s continued progress and its positive impact on Malawi’s health sector.
He said founded in 1964, Trinity College of Health Sciences has trained thousands of health professionals who have served in hospitals and clinics nationwide.
Chipondeponde noted that the institution has always adapted to the country’s needs by expanding its intake whenever demand for healthcare workers increased.
“We respond to the needs of the country. When Malawi required more nurses, we increased our intakes. Our graduates are contributing significantly to their families, communities, and the nation,” he said.
Chipondeponde revealed that the college is diversifying beyond its traditional focus on nursing and midwifery training. It now offers additional health-related courses and plans to roll out more in the coming years.
“We already have a Biomedical Sciences programme accredited by the Medical Council of Malawi(MCM), and we have successfully enrolled three intakes so far.We are also preparing to introduce a Diploma in Nursing , a Diploma in Community Health Nursing, and a Certificate in Pharmacy.The curriculum for the nursing programmes has already been approved by the Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi(NMCM), and we expect these new courses to start in 2026,” he said.
The Principal added that the college operates two enrollment streams each year, in January and October, and occasionally in April, to meet growing student demand.
Chipondeponde also praised Trinity College students for their professionalism during clinical attachments, emphasizing the institution’s strong focus on ethics and discipline.
“We get very positive feedback from hospitals and clinics where our students go for practical training. We ensure they maintain professionalism and adhere to ethical standards as prescribed by the Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi,” he said.
On her part,one of the graduates, Maness Mateyu,expressed joy and pride after successfully completing her Diploma in Public Health, describing her academic journey as long but rewarding despite the challenges faced along the way.
Mateyu said her experience at the institution was marked by determination and perseverance, particularly in adapting to the difficult learning conditions in Nsanje district where the Trinity College of Health Sciences is based.
“I feel so good because it has been a long journey.The weather conditions in Nsanje are not very friendly for students. It is often very hot, and sometimes it becomes hard to study in the mornings, even when you have planned your timetable,” she said.
Despite these obstacles,Mateyu said she remained focused on her studies and is proud to have achieved her dream of becoming a public health professional.
“I am grateful to the college and to my lecturers for their support throughout my studies. This qualification means a lot to me, my family, and my community,” she said.
