By The Forum

Former president Lazarus Chakwera has expressed outrage over the arrest ofsenior Malawi Congress Party (MCP) officials, accusing the government oforchestrating what he described as “politically motivated” actions aimed atintimidating the opposition.

In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Gift Nankhuni, Chakwera saidMCP leaders have been subjected to arrests, searches and intimidation by thepolice without due regard for the law.

He singled out the prolonged detention of MCP Secretary General Richard Chimwendo Banda, who spent nearly a month in police custody before beingreleased, as well as what he described as the targeting of other party members for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

Chakwera said he had engaged President Peter Mutharika on the matter,noting that both leaders share a responsibility to safeguard Malawi’s stabilitythrough respect for constitutional order. The statement, however, did notdisclose Mutharika’s response.

The former president has since called on the international community, civilsociety organisations, faith leaders and Malawians to remain vigilant againstwhat he termed “abuse of police power” by the Malawi Police Service.

Meanwhile, another MCP member and former Minister of Information, MosesKunkuyu, was arrested on Monday after voluntarily presenting himself at Area30 Police Headquarters in Lilongwe.

His lawyer, George Kadzipatike, said Kunkuyu surrendered after learning thatpolice wanted to question him. Kadzipatike said Kunkuyu, who also serves asMCP campaign director, is accused of inciting violence during remarks made at the funeral of former deputy speaker of Parliament Madalitso Kazombo.Authorities have not clarified which specific remarks triggered the arrest.

In a related development, the Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate’s Courthas granted bail to former Minister of Homeland Security Ezekiel Ching’omaand his personal assistant, Grecian Lungu.

The two face charges of terrorist financing activities linked to the 2024abduction of Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives(CDEDI) executive director Sylvester Namiwa during nationwide protests.

The court heard that Ching’oma allegedly transferred MWK3.9 million toLungu to facilitate the abduction.

Senior Resident Magistrate Breacious Kondowe rejected the State’s requestto detain the suspects for 14 more days, ruling that police should completeinvestigations before making arrests.

The court ordered Ching’oma and Lungu to each pay a bail bond of MWK3million, surrender their passports, provide two sureties worth MWK5 million,and report to Area 30 Police Headquarters every fortnight.

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