Suspected political violence perpetrators yesterday had a shortlived freedom after the Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court granted them bail only to be re-arrested on other charges.
Chief resident magistrate Austin Banda had yesterday released on bail 11 suspects linked to incidents of political violence prior to the September 16 General Election.
State prosecutor Prescott Mwayiulipo said the 11 suspects were granted bail yesterday while six others have been arrested in connection with an incident that happened in April 2024 at Mbowe Service Station in Lilongwe, where a gang attacked then opposition Democratic Progressive Party members who planned a parade.
He said the 17 are expected to appear before court today but could not say how many charges they are facing in the Mbowe fracas.
“You will hear the charges tomorrow in court. We have already filed the charge sheet,” said Mwayiulipo.
The arrest of the suspects yesterday brought frustrations among their sympathisers that gathered at the court. Some were seen confronting the police expressing their dissatisfaction with the way their arrests are being handled.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson Jessie Kabwila, who has been attending the court sessions as a concerned citizen and human rights defender, said she was concerned with the way the arrests are being handled.
She said the arrests were politically-motivated and there was abuse of power.
“This abuse of power is typical of DPP. There is no government that has shown us executive arrogance as DPP has done,” said Kabwila.
In granting bail earlier on, Banda said the State failed to show that granting bail will not be in the interest of justice.
The State wanted the suspects to remain in custody until the matter is concluded, saying releasing the suspects would see them interfere with witnesses and that there was a risk of them evading trial due to seriousness of the offences.
Bail was granted on condition that the suspects deposit a bail bond of K150 000 each, produce two sureties bonded at K2 million each. The suspects were to surrender their travel documents to the court and should be reporting to National Police Headquarters every Thursday.
The 11 suspects, Bruno Munlo Makina, Eric Phakamisa, Davie Malamula, Rahim Jothan, Alfonso Chiphwanya, Yesaya Bwanali, Alfred Kadula, Issa Saidi, Lameck Manduwa Mkasa, Lester Kanjunga and Howard Anusa Kadango, on Monday pleaded not guilty to five charges related to an incident at Mponela in May 2025.
In the case, the 11 are answering one count of acts intended to cause grevious harm, one count of arson, one count of malicious damage and two counts of assault occasioning to actual bodily harm.
On Thursday last week the Principal Resident Magistrate’s Court also granted bail to nine suspects in another case but the nine were re-arrested on Friday after the court finished processing sureties.
The nine are Alfred Dalla Kadula, 43, of Batulen Village, T/A Chiseka, Lilongwe, Joseph Tilibe Gideon, 50, of Sadya Village, T/A Mbwatalika in Lilongwe, Lameck Mandowa, 42, of Yoyola Village, T/A Kapeni in Blantyre, Lester Hanieck Aaron Kanjunga, 38, of Zidana Village, T/A Kwataine in Ntcheu, Howard Hamuza, 27 , of Dothi Village, T/A Mbwatalika in Lilongwe and Mabvuto Njuchi, 27, of Ngozi Village, T/A Neno in Neno District, Davie Malamula 35 of George Village, T/A Kadewere in Chiradzulu District, Issa Saidi 31 of Lulanga Village, T/A Makanjira in Mangochi, and Rodgers Fakiri 33 of Makwala Village, T/A Mulolo in Nsanje District.
