Presidential press secretary Cathy Maulidi yesterday confirmed that Chakwera telephoned the President on Monday to complain about what he termed “political arrests”. She said Mutharika firmly disputed the allegations and defended the conduct of the police. Chakwera had earlier accused government of selective enforcement of the law, citing arrests, searches and attempted raids involving senior MCP officials.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson Gift Nankhuni, the former president warned of a deterioration in due process and constitutional safeguards. He also cited prolonged detentions without charges, noting that MCP secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda was released only after a High Court order barred police from further detention, stressing that such orders must be obeyed. Nankhuni could not be reached for a comment yesterday. Deputy Minister of Homeland Security Norman Chisale, whose remarks were referenced in Chakwera’s statement, was also unreachable for comment at the time of filing this story.
