Information reaching this publication indicates that veteran journalist and writer Reverend Patrick Semphere has died.

Until his death, Reverend Semphere was serving as chairperson of the Malawi Human Right Commission (MHRC).

According to information at hand, Semphere died of COVID-19 this morning at Bwaila Isolation Centre in the capital Lilongwe.

MHRC Executive Secretary Habiba Osman has confirmed the development.

Semphere was appointed on the post by former President Peter Mutharika in 2020.