Kunje’s 15 Months Jail Term Excessively Harsh – Activist Kenani
Renowned Social and Political commentator Onjezani Kenani says the 15 months jail term given to former Malawi electoral Commission (MEC) Commissioner Linda Kunje for obstructing President Lazarus Chakwera’s convoy is ‘too harsh’.
Kunje’s former driver and a co-convict, Jones Tewesa, has also been sentenced to 15 months imprisonment with hard labour by Chief Resident Magistrate Austin Banda.
Reacting to the development through his official Facebook page Kenani said obstructing Presidential convoy is a serious offence but the sentence given to Kunje is too harsh.
“Obstructing the motorcade of the President is not acceptable as it puts the President’s life at risk; but sentencing Kunje and her driver to 18 months and 15 months imprisonment respectively is excessively harsh,” posted Kenani
Meanwhile, Christopher Masanje, Lawyer for Linda Kunje, said Kunje will take the matter to the High Court. He argued that when a convict is a first offender, courts usually give non-custodial sentences.
“We are surprised that this has been the ruling of the court. We expected a suspended sentence due to the mitigating factors that we put across,” said Masanje.
On the other hand, State Prosecutor Levison Mangani said the State was happy with the judgement.
On 19 August, the court convicted the two of criminal, recklessness and negligence after they obstructed President Chakwera’s convoy in 2020 along Zomba-Blantyre road.
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After serving her sentence, Linda Kunje will become a ‘bitter’ woman. Make sure she does not get anywhere near a president or their convoy.
Sorry DPP !
Ma president a zinzathu amadudatsa a ndi anthu ndikumapatsana moni, kuchezerana monga mtsogoleri wao okondedwa. Amakhala patsogolo monga servant leader. Koma a President a MCP ku Malawi amakhala m’ busa wolishya ndi chikwapuku kuchokera kumbuyo.
Intimidation won’t take us anywhere becoz Kamuzu did it and it worked in his time but not now.
HH in Zambia is so much respected from within and without because he delivers. Respect doesn’t come coz of intimidation.
The msge govt and the Court are sending to the world is that Malawians should fear his president. That’s not the leader Malawians voted and want. Malawians were promised a Servant leader, full of humaour, humility, deliver to scoop Malawians out of abject poverty. With this kind of attitude, expect for worse in tbe next Barometer survey. Performance indicators continue to get worse. Malawians totally have a different president than the one they voted. He promised to walk along with us in mass demonstrations and promised to continue walking along with us in all our challenges. Alas!!!, He has turned against us. Tinabetsa zedi.
This sentence is unrealistic
One of the recent Popes was shot while celebrating a Mass. He got treated and the wound healed. The Pope went to see the shooter. Upon seeing him, The Holy Sea hubmly requested the authorities to forgive him and St him free. He did this as a follower of Christ. Our president needs to do this because he has been a top clergy man in his church. His biggest security is the Lord. As a Reverend, he can’t afford to take pride in seeing people suffering.As Malawians we are in for trouble.
I rest my case
The court has been too lenient to Kunje. She is too disrespectful for noyhing
Remember that she banged parliamentary doors in a too rude way.
She blocked the state president while very much aware that laws don’t allow that
And giving a suspended sentence to such a useless citizen is a mock of justice
She deserved 5 year custodial sentence