Court finally grants Kalindo bail

Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court in Mangochi has granted bail to controversial political activist Bon Kalindo who was arrested for inciting violence in the district during the demonstrations he led on November 30, 2023.

The protest against the 44 percent kwacha  devaluation, increased fuel and fertiliser prices, among other reasons, turned ugly in Mangochi when protesters started damaging both government and private individuals’ property.

Following the incident, police arrested over 45 people.

Later, on December 8 2023, police arrested Kalindo in Zomba immediately after he was granted bail for a similar offence he committed during similar demonstrations in Zomba.

Prior to giving him bail, the court on Monday, December 11 2023 denied him bail and set yesterday to rule on his bail application.

Giving Kalindo the bail, senior resident magistrate Muhammad Chande ordered him to pay a cash bond of K300 000 and two sureties with non-cash bond of K7 million each.

He further ordered the suspect to appear before Mangochi Police Station every Friday fortnightly.

The senior resident magistrate, has therefore, adjourned hearing of the case to January 11 2024.

After the court granted Kalindo bail, hundreds of his sympathisers, who converged outside the courtroom, broke into jubilation as they waited for him to come out of court.