United Transformation Movement (UTM) has demanded for the immediate release of Human Rights Defenders Coalition Members MacDonald Sembereka and Gift Trapence.

The Malawi Police Service (MPS) on Sunday night arrested Trapence and Sembereka on grounds that they mobilized people to Shutdown State House residence.

In a statement released few minutes ago made available to Faceofmalawi reporter, UTM Publicity Secretary Joseph Chidanti Malunga described the arrest as hindrance to democracy.

“Sunday’s arrest of the HRDC leadership is the latest evidence of the pitiful levels to which our MPS has been compromised. We have in Malawi a police service which has ceased to serve the public whose taxes sustain its operations and is now at the beck and call of politicians who are living on borrowed time.

“UTM joins all peace loving Malawians in condemning DPP and MPS for their continued acts of impunity. It also demands the immediate and unconditional release of the arrested activists and holds both DPP and MPS responsible for their safety and security,” reads in part the statement.

Meanwhile Trapence and Sembereka have been transferred to Blantyre.