By Vincent Gunde
Leader of Opposition in Parliament Dr. George Chaponda, says he is appalled by the arrest of Activist Edward Kambanje promising to stand in solidarity with him and all those who fight for transparency and accountability in Malawi.
Chaponda says recently, Kambanje asked the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate reports of an alleged questionable lifestyle of Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda and his daughter, Regina and also exposed gaps in national Identity Cards registration exercises in centres he inspected in some parts of Blantyre.
He has described the arrest of Kambanje as a clear attempt to silence him, an attack on free speech, whistleblower protection, harassment and intimidation, demanding his immediate release from police custody for reporting corruption.
Writing in a statement, Chaponda says the arrest of Kambanje is a stark reminder of the Government’s growing intolerance of dissent and its desperate attempts to hide the truth assuring government that Malawians will not be silenced.
“As Leader of Opposition, I condemn this authoritarian move and demand the immediate and unconditional release of Edward Kambanje, an end to the harassment and intimidation of Activists and whistleblowers and a full investigation into the alleged lifestyle reported by Activist Kambanje,” reads the statement in part.
Bakili Muluzi TV was the first to report to the world that Malawi’s Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda has allegedly rose himself to a billionaire within months after his appointment by President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera.
Limpopo FM online radio added the soup to the alleged story on Chithyola that he was allegedly duped K50 million by two Activists so that the money be used to destroy Leader of the Concerned Citizens Group Edward Kambanje against his letter filed to the ACB to be investigated by an independent firm.
The online Radio alleged that Activists Agape Khombe and Billy Malata have connived with two prominent lawyers Thokozani Banda and Phillip Kamangirah to destroy Kambanje through Queen Kapalamula, a workmate of Edward Kambanje.
The Radio alleged that the two Activists met Queen Kapalamula in Lilongwe after being given cash amounting to K200,000 as transport money to travel to Lilongwe from Blantyre and she spent a night at Simama Hotel.
Limpopo FM, the two Activists agreed with Queen Kapalamula to be given cash amounting to K5 million so that she disowns Kambanje on the claims that he forged her signature in a letter filed to the ACB for Edward Kambanje to be arrested and prosecuted
According to Limpopo FM Finance Minister Chithyola Banda is alleged to have bought 15 residential houses in Lilongwe, Liwonde and Blantyre with one bought at K400 million cash and has 20 new fleet of vehicles claimed to have been bought by his 24 -year-old daughter, Regina.
