Malawi Police release panga wielding thugs

Malawi Police  released  on bail suspects arrested  in  connection to the violence that erupted last week at a solidarity rally Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera held in Mzuzu city after press emerged that they had  implicated senior officials of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Five suspected arrested involved with the violence are: Thembisire Nkosi, 32 from Nkosi village, Traditional Authority Nthwalo in Mzimba; George Mwamtobe, 38, from Mwangukulu Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kilipula in Karonga; Lumbani Munthali, 29, from Matupi Village, T/A Chikulamayembe, Rumphi; Clive Nthakomwa, 52, of Malema Village, T/A Kyungu in Karonga; and, Frank Simwaka Kashololo, 30, from Kashololo Village, T/A Mwenewenya in Chitipa.

Government officials are said to have ordered Police to release the suspects.

The investigations have also been compromised with DPP interference, it has been reported.

But Northern Region Police spokesman Maurice Chapola denied  political interference, insisting investigations are on going.

Meanwhile,  the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), a social development arm of the influential Catholic church has expressed concern that Police can be politically “compromised”.

CCJP acting national secretary Martin Chiphwanya said Malawians deserve “an honest and truthful police service” since it is run on tax-payers money.

Police have been a letdown to the tax-payers for their inaction during the day of the violence and  behaved unprofessionally throughout the development on the matter.