By Vincent Gunde
A human rights activist based in South Africa Charles Ben Longwe, has claimed that Frederick Billy Malata was arrested by politics of the day so that he should be prevented for revealing the truth on who was sponsoring him to obtain a court injunction against Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika from standing in the 2025 elections.
Longwe said Malata wanted to hold a press briefing to expose those behind blocking the candidature of Professor Mutharika claiming that he was contracted and was asking for his balance of money which he was not given.
He has since appealed to the court to release him so that he should hold the much anticipated Press Conference to reveal who was providing the muscles to go to court to challenge Professor Mutharika’s illegibility for the 2025 elections.
Speaking through an audio clip circulating in various social media platforms, Ben Longwe said Malata did not expose people but was threatening them that if they don’t pay for his balance of money, he will hold a news conference to reveal their identities.
Longwe has described the arrest of Malata as a deliberate plan to prevent the truth from coming out assuring the courts that if Malata’s case enters the plea of prosecutions, he will be the witness for justice to prevail.
He said it is very clear that Malata and others were being sent to court to obtain an injunction against Professor Mutharika by some DPP presidential aspirants alleging that they have connived with the police and a judge to keep Malata at Maula Prison until DPPs elective conference is held.
The activist said the involvement of the state in arresting Malata and keep him at Maula Prison is questionable observing that Malawians are suspecting government for taking part in sponsoring DPP infightings so that the party go to the 2025 elections without a presidential candidate.
“Malata’s case is civil which has been turn into criminal, give him bail to speak what he prepared to reveal through a news conference for Mutharika to know the truth on what was going on behind the curtains,” said Longwe.
He claimed that some names including President Chakwera were destroyed alleging that last week lawyer for Dr. Dalitso Kabambe went to meet Malata while in the hands of police to retract the story for him to be released but he refused.
Ben Longwe said Malawians are waiting anxiously to hear for themselves real names to come out claiming that blocking Malata’s mouth from speaking what he has in mind through a news conference, will continue tarnishing the image of President Chakwera and his MCP led government.
He has reminded authorities in Malawi that Malata’s case is civil observing that those who were injured by Malata’s threats would have gone to court for an injunction and not arresting him as if he has a committed a criminal offence.
