Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) director of youth Norman Chisale says he will not surrender himself to police in the wake of a warrant of arrest against him issued by the Blantyre Magistrate’s Court.
In an interview yesterday, he said he has seen the arrest warrant on social media, but he will not turn himself in as his DPP colleague and Blantyre City South East legislator Sameer Suleman did.
Said Chisale: “I will not go there to hand myself in based on a document which I have only seen on social media. However, if the police are looking for me, they will find me.”
The warrant of arrest, dated January 6 2024 and addressed to all police officers, indicates that Chisale is wanted for remarks he made at a DPP rally in Blantyre on December 21 2024.
During the said rally, Chisale, who is former president Peter Mutharika’s personal bodyguard, i s quoted as having said that he would mobilise people from Nsanje to Chitipa to rise against anyone who may attempt to arrest Mutharika.
The warrant states that the statement has the potential to cause fear and alarm to the public, an offence under Section 60 of the Penal Code.
“You are hereby directed to arrest the said Norman Chisale and to produce him before the court in execution of this warrant,” reads the warrant of arrest.
National Police deputy spokesperson Harry Namwaza refused to comment on the warrant of arrest, but said Chisale was not in the custody of the police at the time.
Last month, police arrested Mulanje Bale legislator Victor Musowa (DPP) over remarks made at a DPP rally in Ndirande Township, Blantyre on December 15 where he told party supporters not to entertain those found chanting the “kwacha” slogan associated with the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), a key partner in the governing Tonse Alliance.
In September last year, Machinga Cent ral East legislator Daudi Chikwanje (DPP) was also arrested over allegations that he encouraged his party members to burn anyone found in MCP regalia at Nsanama in Machinga.
