NGO Board mulls over Mulli, YAS wrangle
The Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) Board has said its programmes committee will meet next week to discuss businessperson Leston Mulli’s request to either suspend or cancel Youth and Society (YAS) registration.
Mulli and his two companies, Sunrise Pharmaceuticals and Chombe Foods Limited, sought the board’s intervention following YAS alleged interference in his K8 billion claim from government.
The request followed an injunction Mulli obtained last Thursday, restraining YAS and its executive director Charles Kajoloweka from commenting on the K8 billion claim.
In an interview on Tuesday, NGO Board chief executive officer Voice Mhone confirmed receiving the request.
He said: “The board’s programmes committee will meet next week and recommend a decision to the board.”
Meanwhile, speaking during a regional meeting for Human Rights Defenders Coalition in Mzuzu on Tuesday, the group’s vice-chairperson Gift Trapence said they hope the NGO Board will protect civic space for NGOs operations.
“We don’t want organisations to be deregistered because of being critical of the governing DPP or individuals linked to the party,” he said.
In a letter dated August 29 2018, Mulli, through Churchill and Norris Law Consultants, argues that by commenting on the matter, Kajoloweka displayed misconduct, unprofessionalism, abuse and violation of human rights, and that his comments may influence the court’s determination of the case.
Mulli, through Sunrise Pharmaceuticals Limited and Chombe Foods Limited, sued government and claimed K3.1 billion in damages for losses during the July 20 2011 demonstrations in which 21 people were killed.
He is now seeking an additional K8 billion. The claim is being heard at the High Court in Blantyre.
