Chavura still in jail
Hip-hop musician Mwiza Chavura will spend two more days in police custody after the Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday denied him bail.
Arrested on Friday last week after releasing a song that allegedly promotes rape, Chavura through his four lawyers led by Nicely Msowoya applied for bail arguing that the offense is minor.
The artist has been charged with producing obscene language contrary to section 179 (1) of the Penal Code.
“It is a misdemeanor which ought to result in a fine. Secondly, for purposes of interrogating him, the state has had much time. The investigations pending have got nothing to do with the need for him to be in custody. In any case, the song being talked about, has had time to be scrutinized for 16 days,” he said.
Earlier, senior superintendent Cecelia Zangazanga asked the court to grant the State more time.
“We would like to proceed with our investigations, we are not done. The State wants 10 more days to finalise investigations. Again, the offense the accused is answering requires consent from the Director of Public Prosecution’s office and that the State is likely to change the charges,” she argued.
Chief resident magistrate Violet Chipawo made a preliminary ruling saying that “considering the volume of submissions made by both parties, I need more time to scrutinize and come up with a determination”.
She then adjourned the case to January 25.
