President Peter Mutharika on Monday spoke with his predecessor Lazarus Chakwera over the phone on arrests of senior officials in the previous administration with the President insisting that the arrests are not politically-motivated.
Presidential press secretary Cathy Maulidi yesterday confirmed that Chakwera telephoned the President on Monday to complain about what he termed “political arrests”.
She said Mutharika firmly disputed the allegations and defended the conduct of the police.
In a written response yesterday, Maulidi said the President used the call to draw a clear distinction between the two administrations, notably his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ushered into office by the September 16 General Election vote and Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
She said: “The President told Dr Chakwera that unlike during his administration, where arrests were made without evidence and not a single conviction was secured, the current administration only arrests individuals where there is clear and sufficient evidence.”
Maulidi added that Mutharika assured the former president that suspects arrested under his administration would not be subjected to indefinite detention.
“He was very clear that all those arrested will be brought to trial in the shortest possible time, in line with the law. This administration has no interest in political persecution. Our interest is in upholding the rule of law,” she said.
Chakwera had earlier accused government of selective enforcement of the law, citing arrests, searches and attempted raids involving senior MCP officials.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson Gift Nankhuni, the former president warned of a deterioration in due process and constitutional safeguards.
He also cited prolonged detentions without charges, noting that MCP secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda was released only after a High Court order barred police from further detention, stressing that such orders must be obeyed.
Nankhuni could not be reached for a comment yesterday.
Deputy Minister of Homeland Security Norman Chisale, whose remarks were referenced in Chakwera’s statement, was also unreachable for comment at the time of filing this story.
