She fought for multiparty democratic rule in Malawi and was charged with treason, tried and sentenced to death by President Kamuzu Banda.

[4] After Nyasaland gained self-government in 1961 and became the independent state of Malawi two years later, Orton Chirwa, Vera's husband, became a senior figure in the new government as Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

At the end of their appeal in 1983, the minority of the appellate judges that had legal training opposed the guilty verdict, but it was overruled by the majority composed of traditional chiefs.

[7] On the day of the trial Vera defiantly raised her hand to speak and looking the magistrate straight in the eye asked him on what grounds they were accused.

[2] On the Chirwas' appeal to the National Traditional Court of Appeal, the refusal of the lower court to allow defence witnesses, its admission of Orton Chirwa's unsigned statement and its acceptance of a police officer as an expert witness were all criticised, and minority of the judges did not accept that his creation of an unpublished handwritten documents amounted to treason.

She slept on the cement floor, refused to eat the vile food, and was denied visitors, letters from her husband and the right to go outside.

[2] In 2000, she was made the Special Reporter on prison conditions in Africa for the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.

[2] She continued her fight for human and political rights under the Bakili Muluzi and the Bingu wa Mutharika governments.

[6] Chirwa continues to fight for political rights and has attempted to stand as an independent candidate for president, a challenging task in a country with a party system for someone who is not an established politician.

[10] In 2006 when Chtrwa center received UNESCO Prize, Vera Chirwa human rights award was established.