By Vincent Gunde
The Chief Resident Magistrate Court in Blantyre has faulted the state for its plea to continue keeping Mulanje Bale Constituency Legislator Victor Musowa for seven more days to allow police conclude the investigation on the charges he is answering in court of allegedly proposing violence.
Musowa was arrested by police on Monday morning for allegedly proposing violence in Ndirande Township where he told the gathering at a DPP rally never and ever allow any party to use the slogan “Kwacha” in Blantyre.
The Parliamentarian was reacting to MCPs government no interest of arresting MCP thugs who have been masking their faces terrorizing, beating and harassing innocent members of the opposition parties holding peaceful demonstrations in Lilongwe.
Following pressure from the international community, President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera condemned the violence for the first time by asking not commanding the police to arrest the culprits but to this day, all the culprits are free in “This is the government going nowhere “Boma ndilomweli silikuchoka”.
Chief Resident Magistrate Paul Chiotcha has released the Parliamentarian and is out on bail because the state has failed to give convincing reasons of keeping the suspect under its custody for seven more days to allow police conclude investigations.
A Malawi Congress Party (MCP) diehard of Mvera in Dowa district Mr. Rodgers Kamphangala, has praised the court for releasing the accused person Victor Muowa saying this will give the state a litmus test to conclude investigations before arresting the suspects.
Kamphangala said opposition members particularly those from DPP have for 4 years of President Chakwera and the MCP been subject of arrests and rearrests with their cases not concluded making other people to suspect that Malawi courts are operating under the direction of the MCP.
He said in Victor Musowa’s case, the court has proved its independence by releasing the suspect arguing that why arresting him meaning that opposition party members are not being arrested by police but orders from the above on party politics.
The MCP diehard has advised other presiding Magistrates and Judges to discharge their duties professionally and not to side with political parties especially now that the country is geared for the September, 2025 elections reminding all arresting officers that government is a re-ray race, one who is behind today, shall be the first tomorrow.
“Working with the government of the day does not mean that arresting officers should side with the party in government and punishing opposition members,” said Kamphangala.
