DPP to sue over Vuwa Kaunda’s arrest

Malawi’s former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has asked its lawyers to sue government over the arrest of Nkhata Bay Central parliamentarian Symon Vuwa Kaunda.

Government says DPP is free to sue.

Vuwa Kaunda was arrested last week at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) as he was about to board a plane to Brussels, Belgium to attend the African, Caribbean Pacific (ACP)- European Union (EU) joint parliamentary assembly.

National Police spokesperson Rhoda Manjolo claimed that Vuwa Kaunda violated the bail conditions of his treason case.

However, the High Court in Lilongwe cleared and allowed him to proceed with the journey.

Legal spokesperson, George Chaponda confirmed the intention to sue in an interview on Thursday.

“We have already prepared our grounds for the case and have handed them over to our lawyers. Honourable Kaunda was mistreated,” said Chaponda.

He said Vuwa Kaunda had proper clearance from the court, but the police deliberately ignored that.

“Again, Honourable Kaunda was not going out on personal business, he was on parliamentary assignment,” he said.

Attorney General Anthony Kamanga said DPP is free to sue as this is a free country.

Meanwhile, Vuwa Kaunda has explained his cell ordeal after police arrested him at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA). He said he was forced to urinate in a bottle as he was not allowed to move out.

“The cell was tiny, I was with other three suspects from Lumbadzi. I was urinating in full view of them. This is embarrassing,” said the parliamentarian.

He claimed to have stayed for two days without food.

“Later, my in-law brought beddings, but police refused to let them in. I slept on the floor,” he said.