Gwanda faces inciting violence charges — Police

Police spokesman Willie Mwaluka told Nyasa Times in a telephone interview that Police arrested Chakuamba in Karonga.

Yes we have arrested Gwanda Chakuamba, said Mwaluka.

Asked on what offence he committed, Police publicist said the opposition leaders is accused of instigating violence.

He said Chakuamba was being kept in Karonga police and will be taken to
court for formal charges as soon as investigations are over.

We should be able to appraise the public as the case unfolds, said Mwaluka.

Police spokesman said the alledged offence happened in Nkhotakota where
he addressed a rally and incited the public against the Lomwe tribe of
President Bingu wa Mutharika.

Chakuamba's lawyer, Paul Maulidi said the NRP president has not been formally charged.

He has not been formally charged but nobody knows where he is and
what's happening to him, Maulidi said soundin concern about his
client’s safety.

NRP vice president Ken Zikhale Ng'oma said Chakuamba was arrested at
6am in Karonga at Sumuka Lodge belonging to Bazuka Mhango, MP.

Zikhale said police arrested Chakuamba with a warrant or arrest dated
December 8, 2008 obtained at Karonga Magistrate court and wondered at
what time the magistrate issued the warrant which was executed as early
as 6am on the same day it was issued.

NRP Vice President also questioned the credibility of facts on the
warrant which said Chakuamba uttered the words on December 8, 2008 in
Nkhotakota.

On December 8, Hon Chakuamba did not address a meeting in Nkhotakota. He had meetings in Nkhotakota in November," said Zikhale.

He read the particular of the offence as written on the warrant of
arrest  which indicated that Chakuamba proposed violence contrary to
Section 187 (1) of the Penal Code.

The offence as read on the warrant said, Chakuamba: On the 8th month
of December at a mass rally in the district of Nkhotakota without
lawfully excuse at an assembled meeting made a statement, calculated
likely to incite the persons assembled to do physical injury to a class
of persons.

Malawi News a weekend publication recently published a report by
official Malawi News Agency (Mana) which quoted Chakuamba inciting the
public to revolt against Lomwe tribe.

He accused President Mutharika of promoting tribalism for being
associated with the Mulakho wa Ahlomwe heritage group and allegedly
said people should beat up all Lhomwes because they are becoming
pompous.

Ralphael Tenthani, a journalist with the Associated Press (AP) said in
a telephone from Blantyre that he was not sure whether the report was
credible but said Chakuamba did not refute the story.

I don't know whether he said -the remarks-, said Tenthani. But he hasn't refuted the story.

Chakuamba on Sunday told Nyasa Times after reports of his impending
arrest that he did not incite the public but condemned President
Mutharika for what he said the promotion of one tribe amongst many
tribes in the country for political gains in the run up to May 19
general elections.

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Comments (6 posted):

KK CENTRAL VOTERS on 08 December, 2008 11:21:59

Milandu yonse ya boma yokhudza a opposition imakhala yaumboni wolakwika wa bodza. Wasting the tax payers money for nothing.

nyungwa on 09 December, 2008 12:08:25

koma bwana bingu mwaimangai ndi ***** ikulodzani!!

Vuma on 09 December, 2008 12:31:47

* would like to agree with one commentator who said that the evil
spirit is in Malawians ourselves and not the MCP. Why is this trend of
arrests continuing? Why are the state killings not stopping in
multiparty? Where is Chande Mhango and where is Ndaila Onani who was
pulled out of the hospital to face trumped up charges of plotting to
kill Bingu? Yet Malawians are quiet about this? If this happened with
MCP in government, what would have been the reaction? No "Nkhanza" or
evil is in us and it has to be uprooted. Bingu is failing to arrest
hard-core criminals who Ngwazi used to send to Nsanje Prison and
instead he is dwelling of fellow politicians. * would agree that we
Malawians condon oppression and are happy to see neighbours suffering.
We have lived too long in poverty and we are not happy with each other.
The MCP was not a bad party but the Malawians were and are up to now.
Even outside Malawi e.g UK we are known for taking other people’* names
to immigration so that they are deported .That is what Malawians are.
Going back to politics, Mr. Oppressor, why don’* we face each other at
the ballot boxes instead of using Police to oppress and suppress? Bingu
you should know that your points have gone down because of Nkhanza.
Ikadzawina UDF uzadziwanso better MCP they might spare you to make up
for the bad past. Udzapweteketsa a Kaliati chifukwa iwe wadyapo
mokwanira.

Choti Bee Kwamereka on 09 December, 2008 01:57:22

The Malawi Police is headed by narrow brain. The State will definately loose this case.

Bingu, please be careful as you run the Malawi Government. You are being misguided

Better release Gwanda and discharge the case. Malawians are civilized enough to see through the window of your leadership style

Zeze on 09 December, 2008 02:16:17

Iwe Vuma, if somebody does’* have the right papers what is wrong with
reporting him/her to the authorities? You have a problem. That is why
corruption and crime will not end in Malwi beause of people like you.
You know who the criminals are but you don’* report. Staying in any
country illegally is a crime and culprits must be exposed.

As for Gwanda, if he broke no law let him prove himself. We dont want
cheap politics of inciting tribal hatred in Malawi. Let Gwanda defend
himself. Imagine a man calls himself MPHENZI! Can such a person be a
good person?

Thom Chiumia