By The Forum

Police have declined to give details surrounding the arrests of several senior Malawi Congress Party (MCP) figures, including former Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba.

Zamba was arrested on Monday over what her lawyer, George Kadzipatike, described as “allegations of abuse of office.”

“The particulars have not yet been disclosed,” Kadzipatike said.

This is the second time Zamba has been arrested. In December 2025, she was detained over alleged irregular facilitation of the recruitment of more than 300 individuals into various public institutions. She was later granted bail by the Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate Court after spending two nights in police custody, following her arrest at Kamuzu International Airport as she was about to travel abroad on a private trip.

On the same day, police also arrested former Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale. His arrest followed that of former Minister of Finance Sosten Gwengwe on Sunday.

The latest developments bring to six the number of senior MCP officials arrested or facing accusations related to various offences. Others include former Minister of Trade and former vice-presidential running mate to ex-president Lazarus Chakwera, Vitumbiko Mumba; former Minister of Education Jessie Kabwila; former Minister of Natural Resources Ezekiel Ching’oma; and former Minister of Local Government Richard Chimwendo.

Former president Chakwera questioned the arrests recently, describing them as politically motivated and warning of what he called a “deterioration of the rule of law and due process.”

In response, President Peter Mutharika, through his spokesperson, dismissed the concerns, insisting that law enforcement agencies are acting independently and on the basis of credible evidence.

“His Excellency emphasized that individuals arrested under the current legal framework will not be left to languish in the system,” State House Press Secretary Cathy Maulidi said. “The government is committed to ensuring that all cases are taken to trial expeditiously, in line with the right to fair and timely justice.”

Maulidi also drew a contrast between the current administration and Chakwera’s five-year tenure, accusing the former government of presiding over politically motivated arrests of senior Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials that resulted in few successful convictions.

“The President reaffirmed his resolve to allow law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties without interference,” she said, “stressing that the era of ‘political arrests’ is over.”

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