Malawi Police arrest Father Emmanuel Mlenga: Accused of child abuse

Malawi Police in Zomba have arrested Father Emmanuel Mlenga, a former Catholic priest and a renowned musician on allegations that he was keeping some children without their wishes in a holding cell like room and conditions.

Police in Zomba said Father Mlenga was arrested yesterday after a tip from the public.

The children have since been freed but the former Catholic cleric remains on remand at Zomba Police Station.

Youth Network and Councilling Organisation (Yoneco), a Zomba youth organisation says it is working with the police to investigate the matter.

Sources say Father Mlenga runs a youth project in Zomba which include looking after poor and vulnerable children and he punishes the notorious children by locking them up in a police cell like room.

Yoneco officials said they are investigating if Father Mlenga tortured and harassed the children in the course of meting out disciplinary action.

Father Mlenga came in the limelight in the 1990s because of his slow songs.

He then quit the priesthood and married.

Mlenga was then a visiting fellow at a university in the US before settling down in Zomba, his home where he has a school and other pro-poor projects.