Reverend MacDonald Sembereka is a Malawian reverend, civil and human rights activist. He is the acting national coordinator of the Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC), a network of 91 local civil society and non-governmental organizations. He has been at the forefront of coordinating the nationwide protests in Malawi that began July 20, 2011. In May 2021, it was revealed that he had been appointed to serve at Malawi's Mission at the United Nations in New York. His appointment was widely seen as a reward for his role in the nationwide demonstrations which contributed to the sanctioning of fresh presidential elections by Malawi's high court. Other members of the HRDC were also appointed to various Missions abroad, a move widely seen as an attempt to silence the human rights group. Sembereka is widely known for his controversial lifestyle which is widely viewed as unusual for a reverend. He also served as the Executive Director of Malawi Network of Religious Leaders Living with HIV/AIDS (MANERELA). In 2012 Sembereka left his position as coorindator of HRCC as President

Joyce Banda Joyce Hilda Banda (née Ntila; born 12 April 1950) is a Malawi, Malawian politician, who served as List of heads of state of Malawi, President of Malawi, from 7 April 2012 to 31 May 2014. Banda took office as President following the sudden deat ...

appointed him to a new role as Special Assistant on Non-Governmental Organisations for the Presidents Office. In 2014 Sembereka was replaced as Special Assistant on Non-Governmental Organisations by Mabvuto Bamusi. This coincided with President

leaving office and being replaced by

Peter Mutharika Arthur Peter Mutharika (born 18 July 1940) is a Malawi, Malawian politician and lawyer who was President of Malawi from May 2014 to June 2020. Mutharika has worked in the field of international justice, specialising in international economic la ...

whose brother and previous President

Bingu wa Mutharika Bingu wa Mutharika (; born Brightson Webster Ryson Thom; 24 February 1934 – 5 April 2012) was a Malawian politician and economist who was President of Malawi from May 2004 until his death in April 2012. He was also President of the Democ ...

was strongly criticised by Sembereka. Sembereka is a member of the COMPASS (Coalition on Minority Protection Against Sexual Stigma) coalition and has worked to decriminalise laws against homosexuality in Malawi.

Arson Attacks

He was the target of an arson attack on 10 September 2011 following a similar arson attack at the office of Rafiq Hajat's Institute for Policy Interaction on 3 September 2011. His house was set on fire by petrol bomb. This arson incident came days before the nationwide protests on September 21st, 2011.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sembereka, Macdonald Malawian human rights activists Malawian Christians