Kabwila faces arrest for ‘treason’ over Whatsapp discussion: Malawi opposition aide accused of inciting ‘regime change’

The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Publicity Secretary, Dr Jessie Kabwira has gone into hiding after receiving warnings last night that she is marked for an arrest and that attack by regime thugs following her vociferous call of President Peter Muthrika to resign.

Kabwila has also been marked for arrest as state intelligence officers have a secret Whatsapp group conversations reportedly discussing changing Malawi government.

MCP spokesman told Nyasa Times on Sunday that she was “in hiding.”

“Yes I can confirm that I am in hiding. What happened was that I received a phone call that a group of people are on their way to attack me last night so I quickly moved out from my home,” said Kabwira.

Kabwira alongside MCP legal adviser Louis Chakhwantha, Ulemu Msungama and others faces arrest following the leakage of that Whatsapp conversation which reportedly was plotting insurrection for regime change.

The discussion allegedly centred on inciting protest actions and work stoppages.

“What are we doing as MCP to deal with this stupid DPP administration and its President?  In the last DPP regime, things were bad but we made Malawians to fight back,” reads one of the messages on the group.

Another contributor said Mutharika can be taken down, just using ‘The Mubarak Egypt style’.

But in an interview, Kabwira said she stand by what she said that the DPP led government has failed Malawians.

“I am ready to be arrested even now for standing with the people. I will continue standing with the people despite intimidations even threats to my life,” said Kabwira.

Kabwira said during the late Bingu wa Mutharika regime, she had three warrants of arrest and numerous death threats.

“I had three warrants of arrest during the late Bingu wa Mutharika leadership so no one can intimidate me,” said Kabwira.

Police spokesman refused to comment on the impending arrest but stated that any discussion of trying to overthrow the government is treasonous.

But Kabwira insisted that MCP members have a right of speaking their mind.

Kabwila is reportedly also accused of using services of a Mzuzu University grouping that they have christened the Mzuzu Youth Association to stage anti government protests.

According to instructions given o the Mzuni students, they should demonstrate at any cost demanding answers on what they call the country’s food shortage crisis.

Kabwila herself a former academician told the students to ensure that they demand answers from the authorities through their demonstrations on Monday.

Mzuni Students’ Union President Wazamazama Katatu said at the body received an invitation from the organizers but they had reservations in taking part because the protests’ agenda was not clear.

“We told them off because apart from the fact that the agenda is not clear, we are preoccupied with making sure that our library that was razed down by fire recently is back functioning, hence we cannot find time to be on the streets,” said Katatu.

“We are therefore not part of the impending demonstrations organized by government critics,” stressed Katatu.

Malawi has in recent years lurched from one political and economic crisis to the next.

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