Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (Cdedi) executive director Sylvester Namiwa has pleaded not guilty to charges of treason and publication of false news.
The activist entered the plea in Lilongwe yesterday before High Court of Malawi Judge Mzonde Mvula when the court convened for plea taking and directions.
Represented by Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs director of criminal litigation Dzikondianthu Malunda, the State also expressed its intention to apply for revocation of Namiwa’s bail.
However, he did not give reasons for the intended application, prompting an objection from the defence.
Malunda further said the State will parade five witnesses.
In an interview after adjournment, Namiwa’s lawyer Gladwell Majekete said the defence objected to the proposed bail revocation application because it was not served in advance with the application.
He said: “We were taken by surprise. The minimum expectation was that the application to revoke bail would be filed with the court and served upon us.
“Good practice would demand that it should be filed with the court and served upon us for us even to respond, comment on the same, before the court can hear it.”
Majekete said the court agreed that the State should formally file the application before it could be heard.
The judge has since directed the State to file and serve the application on the defence by September 16 2026.
The defence has until September 22 to respond while the court will hear the application on September 23.
The substantive trial is set to start on October 14 2026.
Namiwa was arrested on July 30 2026 after responding to a police summons at the National Police Headquarters in Lilongwe.
He was initially held on allegations of publishing false news and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
On August 3, the Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court formally charged him with treason under Section 38(1)(a) of the Penal Code and publication of false news likely to cause public fear and alarm.
The case was subsequently committed to the High Court.
The charges arise from statements Namiwa allegedly made during a July 2026 television interview on Luntha TV about the presidency and succession.
