Malawi army, Police detain 16 over alleged plans to disturb voting process

Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers and Malawi Police Service (MPS) have detained 16 people suspected of planning to disturb the voting process in central region district if Nkhotakota.

Some of the suspects held by security forces

Nkhotakota District Commissioner (DC) who is also Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Returning Officer, Dr. Medson Matchaya confirmed of the arrests during a media briefing on Monday, evening.

Matchaya told the media that all the arrested are retired MDF soldiers who claimed to have come to the district as party representatives.

He said the 16 had used a vehicle, Minibus quantum with a registration number bearing the Fresh Presidential Election (FPE) customized number plate.

According to Matchaya, some residents of Nkhotakota became suspicious of the people and after quizzing them, they claimed to be soldiers.

The residents then reported the matter to MDF soldiers deployed in the district who after quizzing them, explained that they were party representatives who had been sent to the district to monitor the fresh presidential elections.

“The soldiers noted that they were all retired MDF soldiers and took them to the police station for further questioning where they implicated some people as being behind their mission,” said Matchaya.

He did not give particulars of those implicated on security grounds, but said they confessed to be working for the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

“This was coming from their mouth after being interrogated but investigations are still ongoing until the truth is established,” said Matchaya.

He, however, said none was found with marked or unmarked ballot papers as alleged by some people and had no weapons in their possession.

He called on people to vote despite the incident, saying it was their right to do so and assured them that MDF and police had tightened security in the district.

The DC also assured the people that the 16 will remain in detention until the truth is known and condemned any attempt by anyone to destabilize the election and the peace prevailing in the district.

All political party representatives and electoral stakeholders attended the press briefing and were given opportunity to ask questions.

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Livulezi river
Livulezi river
3 years ago

Dpp had been thinking all along that the coming in of the new Mdf commander from lomwe belt is a big boost to their evil clandestines
Little did they kno that that won’t help them in any way
Amayesa zida kuti aone ngati Lomwe commander waoyo ati awabeleke.
Lero ndi iziiii !!

John Phiri
John Phiri
3 years ago

Again party monitors do not use the FPE red motor vehicle number plates. Everything you are doing is wrong!!!!

John Phiri
John Phiri
3 years ago

You DPP thugs know why these ex-soldiers were in KK and at one place and traveling in one vehicle. But why is your president complaining about Grezeder having running away into the bush to hide? As president he should have known how bitter people are about the previous stolen election and its consequences. Tell Peter why Grezeder run away, please, please

MCP has lost again
3 years ago

Is it a problem for DPP to use ex-soldiers as monitors? Is it a crime for these monitors to lodge at one place, in this case at Grezelder’s lodge? Can you beat people like that just because you suspect them? Why didn’t you verify with DPP first? Yes they were found with K100,000.00 each, so is that strange to you? Mesa ma monitor alandira ma allowance? Why have you beaten innocent DPP monitors like that? Yes they were recruited from other districts to monitor in Nkhotakota, so is that a problem? And what is MEC and PAC saying about this… Read more »

The SNIPER
The SNIPER
3 years ago

Don’t waste our time trying to make things any how right! Idiot. You can go and ask them in Nkhotakota. Futseki!

Nyoloka
Nyoloka
3 years ago

Usinthe Zinalo, fisi iwe.. ukuyankhulanso ndi ubongo wa blue opanda kanthu nkati

Jose
Jose
3 years ago

Let me warn governing dpp and a Dausi mwatchuka udyo.Govt what you are doing is state terrorism. Zikutsalurani mwachenjera udyo.Milandutu iyi chenjerani.Dziko silanu.Your time is over.

Mtsogoleri opanda mano
Mtsogoleri opanda mano
3 years ago

Mmesa they said they were sent by grezelda Jeffrey? Why kukuluwika? You can’t tell the truth only if it affects MCP/UTM

mwale
mwale
3 years ago

Ralph Kasambara once hired retired soldiers to shoot his best friend and government budget director Paul Mphwiyo. And Ralph is a key member of UTM and he knows the value of Ex soldiers. Ask him when you meet him.

Caroline Ngwira
Caroline Ngwira
3 years ago
Reply to  mwale

Kkkkkk

M'Malawi
M'Malawi
3 years ago
Reply to  mwale

Ralph doesn’t have Access to fpe number plates

Chiga
Chiga
3 years ago
Reply to  mwale

Justice as we already know sent Kasambara and the ex-soldiers involved to jail. Jeffrey says she doesn’t know them and DPP is silent! Truth will come out since a new government will be more transparent and will respect the rule of the law. Law beakers must be prosecuted in the courts of law. 16 witnesses will reveal who sent them

Good critic Mtamba
Good critic Mtamba
3 years ago

Ok let’s hope non of this kind of incidents are not happening in many places I just want to see piece and see who wins the elections

Daniso
Daniso
3 years ago

These people have cleared said that they were paid by Grezelder Jeffrey to come to her district to take part in rigging and yet you are not forth coming. How can Kondwani Nankhumwa pretend as if he does not know that his party had a scheme to rig elections in Nkhotakota and lamenting that he is appalled by the violence being perpetrated by opposition? Every evil plan will be rooted out this is not the time to take Malawians for granted. How did you think you can win by campaigning 2 days out of 60 days as APM did? Usavi… Read more »

Tonde
Tonde
3 years ago
Reply to  Daniso

Maganizo ao ndobera basi ndichifukwa analibe nthawi ndi campaign, pamene anzao samagona mnyumba zao

The Deffender
The Deffender
3 years ago

Thank you MDF and the community for your courage! Change is here already!

Peter Jeuli
Peter Jeuli
3 years ago
Reply to  The Deffender

Boma latengedwa kale ili, asiyeni milandu ayiputayi azamva NATO
pain

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