Peter Mutharika taken to Lilongwe police: Malawi opposition DPP supporters dispersed with tear gas

Peter Mutharika, acting President of Malawi’s former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) who handed himself in to police in the commercial capital, Blantyre on Monday  has been taken to the capital Lilongwe 362 kilometers  away where police are expected to formally charge him with treason.

This follows an arrest warrant issued on him by police in connection with the transition plot he is suspected to have been part of immediately after the death of his brother late President Bingu wa Mutharika in April last year due to heart attack.

Accompanied by hundreds of his party followers and other high-ranking members such as Regional Governor for the south Noel Masangwi and Director of Youth Lewis Ngalande and his lawyer Kalekeni Kaphale, Mutharika handed himself in at Police Southern Region Headquarters at Chichiri, a few minutes after 10.00am.

The acting DPP President said he had not yet been charged by police but he was prepared for anything.

Peter Mutharika: Handed himself in to police
Peter Mutharika: Handed himself in to police

He said police have advised him that he was being  transferred to Police Headquarters in Lilongwe where he is expected to be interrogated.

“We will be leaving for Lilongwe because everyone else here has been moved there. So we will be going there in a few minutes time, we are just waiting for transport,” he said a few minutes before 11.00am.

He said he was prepared for everything and will abide by whatever procedure the police will have.

Meanwhile, police used teargas to disperse hundreds of downhearted DPP supporters around Chichiri area who gathered in solidarity of their leader.

The supporters escorted Mutharika to the police while chanting anti President Joyce Banda’s songs and carrying tree branches.

 

Scores of them pushed their way inside the police premises while singing they were ready to die for their leader.

Earlier in the day, police raided Mutharika’s house where they hit a snag after failing to pick him because he was not around then.

Mutharika is one of the several former ruling party members arrested by police on Monday morning in relation to the matter.

Others include former Information Minister Patricia Kaliati, former Local Government Minister Henry Mussa and lawmaker Kondwani Nankhumwa.

Police have also picked former ministers Symon Vuwa Kaunda and Nicholas Dausi, who is also DPP Spokesperson and former Presidential Guard Commander Duncan Mwapasa.

The law enforcers have not stopped their as they have also picked the top most public servant, Chief Secretary to the Government, Bright Msaka and  Minister of Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe.

The two were reportedly questioned at Lumbadzi Police Station in the capital Lilongwe.

An official commission of inquiry report on circumstances leading to the death of the former president which was released last week exposed the transitional plot that highlighted the key role all the arrested people played.

The inquiry revealed shocking details of how the suspects tried to block President Banda from ascending to power circumventing the Constitution.

The suspects have all denied wrong doing in interviews with various print and electronic media houses, both locally and internationally.

DPP and police tussle at Chichiri as Mutharika arrived
DPP and police tussle at Chichiri as Mutharika arrived

 

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Peter Mutharika hands himself in to police, Kalirani arrested: Malawi transition plot

Opposition DPP president Peter Mutharika has handed himself in to police in Blantyre after an arrest warrant was issued on...

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