Visits and Paint His Detention Cells at Lumbadzi and Maula Prison In Commemoration of 2nd Anniversary of His Arrest in March 2013
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| Pres. Mutharika |
The State President Arthur Peter Mutharika is this Wednesday March 11, 2015 commemorating 2nd anniversary of his arrest in 2013.
President Mutharika programme includes a trip down memory lane to see the prison cell in which he was once detained in 2013 that is in Lumbadzi and Maula Prison cells.
Mutharika is expected to lead those that were arrested together with him and the entire membership of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in remembrance of this day by among other activities, will participate in painting of holding cells and offices at Lumbadzi Police Station where he and 11 others were incarcerated as well as visit Maula Prison in the city of Lilongwe.
Press Statement from Kamuzu Palace signed by Chikondi Juma on Tuesday March 10, 2015 says President’s involvement in these activities is to underline his philosophy and the commitment of his administration that no one in Malawi will be arrested on political grounds and that prisons should not be detention centres for punishment rather places for rehabilitation and reformation.
His Excellency President Mutharika is expected to arrive at Lumbadzi Police Station at about 11:30 in the morning.
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| Nankhumwa was among 11 detainees |
Then DPP interim president Peter Mutharika, Bright Msaka, Henry Mussa, Nicholas Dausi, Goodall Gondwe, Jean Kalirani, Patricia Kaliati, Unus Mussa,
Necton Mhura, Symon Vuwa Kaunda, Kondwani Nankhumwa were arrested during Joyce Banda administration in March 2013 and charged with treason following Commission of Inquiry Report that exposed attempts to circumvent constitutional order in April 2012 soon after the death of former Malawi president Bingu wa Mutharika.
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| Goodall was also arrested |
Former legal adviser to the late Mutharika, lawyer Allan Ntata was also one of the suspects but escaped arrest following his stay outside the country immediately after the death of Bingu.
Lilongwe chief resident magistrate Ruth Chinangwa read seven charges with all the suspects jointly being charged on two of them, including the sixth count of “disobedience to statutory duty that is for disobeying the Constitution by denying that the then vice-president [Joyce Banda] had automatically taken over the presidency despite knowing that Mutharika had died while Bright Msaka, had two charges of his own on, that is breach of trust by a public officer for his failure to announce the death of Mutharika and negligence of official duty for his failure to inform the nation about the death of Mutharika despite knowing that the president had died.
Peter and Msaka had joint charge on count two of inciting mutiny when they allegedly incited Army Commander General Henry Odillo to take over the country and also to issue a public announcement on the said takeover.
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| Mutharika branded his arrest as political |
In 2014 just few days after his inauguration as Malawi President, publicly condemned his arrest and branded it as a mare political motive. He also discredited validity of findings and recommendations in the Inquiry saying all the commissioners who led the inquiry into Bingu's death were all from one area and were politically motivated.
Government dropped the case following his ascendancy to president.
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