Uladi claims was searched like a criminal

Salima South MP and Maravi People’s Party (MPP) president Uladi Mussa says he was treated like a criminal after being subjected to a rigorous body and bag search at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) VIP lounge.

But Airport Police spokesperson Peter Botha described the search as normal.

Mussa, who was travelling to South Africa over the weekend, said in an interview on Monday, he felt humiliated when he used the VIP lounge.

“I have travelled 34 times since I was elected into Parliament. This was meant to either humiliate or intimidate me. What is this administration afraid of if they have a great track record [of human rights] they always claim to have?” wondered Mussa.

‘Someone is very scared’

He said people of integrity and with diplomatic passports use the VIP lounge, yet it was surprising that authorities stooped so low to strip him of his VIP status.

“Someone is very scared. They think that when we travel, we carry something [illegal]. We are Malawians of good standing, elected by our people and no one should use government facilities to scare us or intimidate us,” said Mussa.

Botha, however, said police searches are normal for people who go through VIP lounge although diplomats, ministers and the President are exempted from such searches.

“Everyone is searched normally. It could be that since the airport’s VVIP is being extended, we are using the VIP only.  So, it could have been awkward to search others and leave someone,” said Botha in an interview on Tuesday.