Bingu orders ACB to arrest 2 judges, magistrates

President Bingu wa Mutharika’s ruthless regime of intimidation continues in a country where he has stifled all forms of democratic engagement and human rights as he has now ordered  the re-arrest of his former Attorney General Ralph Kasambara, some lawyers and judges.

According to Nyasa Times sources, Mutharika has directred the state-run corruption-busting body Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) chief Alex Nampota to arrest his critic Kasambara and two other lawyers on corruption indictment.

The charges will stem on how the lawyers obtained bail for the outspoken lawyer while courts were on strike.

Chief Justice Munlo: Firmly advised the dictator

The President has also directed the arrests of  two High Court Judge Godfrey Mwase of Zomba and deputy High Court registrar Mike Tembo, Magistrate Innocent Nebi  and three court clerks. They will also answer corruption charges.

Lawyers Jonathan Kara and Wapona Kita, who applied for and obtained bail for Kasambara, were quizzed by ACB recently on how the process was conducted.

“The President wants to see how judges and magistrates on strike  will grant bail to each other. The arrests will be affected this week end most likely,” the source informed.

Nampota is said to have “reasoned” with the President, saying the move could raise questions about independence of the graft fighting body as observers point out that the Kasambara case is tainted with political vandettah.

The ACB boss, according to sources, was “unceremoniously dismissed after he seemed to be questioning the directive” of the 78-year-old President Mutharika.

The Chief Justice, Lovemore Munlo, on the other hand “firmly advised the President” that he cannot stop or order the striking judicial officers and their support staff.

The President was “gravely offended” by the Chief Justice remarks and threatened to fire striking judges and magistrates, Nyasa Times understands.

Once again the Chief Justice reminded the President that the same would require impeachment in the National Assembly which Parliament ended its sitting Friday.

Kasambara was arrested recetly after his guards apprehended three of five hired regime thugs who were sent to petrol bomb his office. He claimed the three confessed during interrogation being sent by government to harm him.

The lawyer has been outspoken in his criticism of Mutharika and gave a newspaper interview calling for Mutharika to resign or face impeachmet, saying”Malawians must understand that the person they employed as the president of their country … has defiled the conditions of service.”

Kasambara added: “The president has disobeyed the national assembly and the judiciary. He wants to be a dictator.”

Mutharika’s regime appears to have hit the panic button, having ordered arbitrary  arrests of  activists and critics  in fear of this month’s impending  people driven revolution.

Malawi continues to sink into a state of anarchy where the rule of law is being compromised and where governance is completely undemocratic.

Commentators say Mutharika has “failed his people” and that he has no legacy, as his time is rapidly running out.

Mutharika denies any accusations of authoritarianism.

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