President Lazarus Chakwera has argued the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) to be at the forefront in upholding human rights in the country.

Chakwera made the remarks on Wednesday while presiding over the swearing-in of lawyer Chikondi Chijozi as a Commissioner of the Seventh Cohort of the Commission at Ntunthama Residence in Lilongwe.

Chakwera says advancing human rights is not a walk in the park and that it must not be taken on by the timid while arguing the commission to take powerful forces to task without any fear.

According to Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Zangazanga Chikhosi, Chijozi fills the vacancy in the MHRC set-up following the death of the organization’s Chairperson Patrick Semphere early this year.

Chikhosi says Chijozi is a human rights lawyer with 14 years of experience.

Meanwhile, the President has since congratulated Chijozi on her swearing-in as a member of MHRC while pledging his government’s commitment to helping MHRC to maintain its good reputation on the international stage.

However, Chakwera also expressed his condolences to MHRC due to the death of Semphere.