Human rights activists released on court bail

The Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to eight Human Rights Ambassadors leaders who were arrested during demonstrations in Lilongwe last Wednesday.

The eight, who have been in custody since last Wednesday, are answering two charges, namely disrespecting court proceedings and inciting violence.

The leaders are Kingsley Mpaso, Billy Banda, Phunziro Mvula, Chimwemwe Mphepo, Edward Kampanje, Aubrey Harare, Jonathan Phiri and Victor Nyanyaliwa.

According to the State, the charges may increase as investigations to the demonstration are into progress.

In his ruling yesterday, first grade magistrate Amran Phiri dismissed as not convincing the State’s arguement  to continue keeping the eight in custody for fear that they can interfere with investigations.

He asked the accused persons to provide one surety with K150 000 each, give K500 000 non cash bond, surrender their travel documents, report to Police every fortnight and seek consent whenever they want to travel outside of the Central Region.

However, the other 68 protesters who were arrested alongside the Human Rights Ambassadors last Wednesday are still in custody as they await to appear in court for their bail application.

In an interview, one of the activists, Mvula said they will vacate the injunction that forbade the ill-fated demonstrations last week  and they will set a new date for the protests.

The Human Rights Ambassadors and other civil rights leaders were protesting what they termed selective justice by the Judiciary.