It was a day of mixed fortunes for the erstwhile governing Malawi Congress Par ty (MCP) yesterday as its secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda was remanded to prison while two other officials were granted court bail.
Chief resident magistrate Austin Banda yesterday ordered that Chimwendo Banda, accused of attempted murder, should be remanded to prison but be first taken to a hospital of his choice for medical examination.
In a related development, Lilongwe senior resident magistrate Bracious Kondowe granted bail to former president Lazarus Chakwera’s running mate Vitumbiko Mumba and MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila who are answering a charge of publication of false news likely to cause alarm to the public.
Kondowe released the two on condition that they each pay a K1 million cash bond, produce one surety bonded at K2.5 million non-cash and surrender their travel documents.
Mumba and Kabwi la are accused of addressing a press briefing dubbed ‘We Got Th i s ‘ , w hich allegedly made claims of electoral fraud against the Democratic Progressive Party before the Malawi Elec toral Commission announced the results of the September 16 elections.
Banda. | Nation
On the other hand, Chimwendo Banda, a former Cabinet minister in the Chakwera administration, is being charged together with another suspect Alfred Dala Kadula.
In the Chimwendo Banda case, the State sought to have the matter committed to the High Court and prayed for their further remand.
But defence lawyer George Kadz i pat ike ob jec ted, arguing that Kadula could not be arrested or detained because he was among 11 suspects protected by a court order restraining the State from further arrests and detention in relation to political violence cases.
“When the court makes a decision it has to take into account the order of injunction because it is binding on this court,” he said, tendering a copy of the injunction as evidence.
In his ruling , chief resident magistrate Banda questioned how Kadula had been brought before court in the first place if he was not under arrest and declined to remand him, citing the injunction.
On Chimwendo Banda, Kadzipatike told the court that he was unwell since his arrest on Friday and that authorities at Kanengo Police Station ignored the defence’s demands for him to be taken to hospital.
He said Chimwendo Banda has a long-standing medical condition and was referred to South Africa for treatment in 2024, adding that the condition resurfaced while he was in police custody.
The court ordered that Chimwendo Banda be remanded to prison subject to first undergoing medical examination at a hospital of his choice.
In a related development, MCP has accused the government of engaging in political persecution, arguing that the recent arrests of its members are intended to divert attention f rom pressing national challenges.
Speaking at a press briefing in Li longwe yesterday, MCP campaign director Moses Kunkuyu said the arrests of Chimwendo Banda , Kabwila and Mumba were politically-motivated.
He called on the government to stop what he described as political arrests and instead focus on addressing the country’s economic challenges.
“Now is not the time for political witch-hunts. It is time for nation building and bipartisanship to address the challenges f ac i ng Malawians,” said Kunkuyu, questioning the timing of the arrests, noting that they were made on a Friday purportedly to keep the suspects in custody longer before appearing in court.
He further cal led for the depoliticisation of law enforcement agencies , saying this is key to restoring
