Harry Mkandawire hospitalized, charged

Harry Mkandawire, a critic of President Bingu wa Mutharika  who was arrested in last Friday allegations that he was inciting violence and using insulting language against the president, on Sunday was hospitalized after a healthy emergency.

Mkandawire was taken ill at Dr Mkandawire’s private clinic in Mzuzu after suffering hypertension.

He however remained under security forces guard.

Mkandawire will appear at Magistrate court on Monday to be formally charged.

However, speaking to Nyasa Times from his hospital bed, the politician said he has been charged by police for proposing violence at a public meeting held on November 14 at St John’s of God in Mzuzu.

At the meeting, Mkandawire a northern-based business magnet and a former regional governor of Mutharika’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), criticized  President Mutharika’s policies like the  newly-introduced quota system in public university selection, which Mutharika said was aimed at ending dominance of people from the north in public universities at the expense of the populous central and southern regions.

He also accused the President for the promotion of his tribal Mulakho wa Alhomwe group.

“The meeting was organized by Forum for New Direction (Fond) pressure group,” said Mkandawire.

FOND spokesman, Msenga Mulungu confirmed that the meeting took place and that Mkandawire was like any other guests.

“FOND organised a high-powered meeting in Mzuzu to discuss issues of concern that affect residents of Malawi in general and the north in particular in current times,” said Mulungu.

“During this meeting, FOND invited likeminded individuals, traditional leaders and institutions, resident in the north, and friends of FOND from the Central and Southern Regions. In attendance were representatives of churches and church affiliated organisations, executive members of the Northern Region Fora; prominent resident politicians of AFORD, DPP, National Rainbow Coalition (NARC); PETRA and People’s Progressive Movement (PPM).”

He challenged the state to effect arrest on all speakers during that meeting.

Mkandawire recently wrote a scathing open letter to President Mutharika, accusing him of the issues he has been arrested for.

He was expelled from the ruling party after the letter was leaked and its contents were published on Nyasa Times online news site.

Mkandawire and  his political ally, Yeremiah Chihana founded what is being called the Northern Region Forum, with the aim of championing causes for the northern region which the two believe is being marginalized when it comes to apportioning of national development projects.

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