Malawi police say Joyce Banda warrant of arrest remains valid: Ex-president end 4-year exile

Malawi police which issued an arrest warrant for former president Joyce Banda in connection with the country’s “Cashgate” corruption scandal, which involved large-scale looting of government coffers, say it remains valid and can be executed once Banda return home on Saturday.

Former Malawi leader Joyce Banda to return after 4-year exile

Last July, police issued an arrest warrant against Banda, saying her alleged offences were part of Cashgate. But early this year, the Anti-Corruption Bureau said it had no solid evidence against her, partly clearing her of wrongdoing.

A police spokesman James Kadadzera said they would make no comment on the matter until Banda was back in the country.

However, in an application to the High Court, Banda through one of her lawyers, Bright Theu,  argued that the decisions of the magistrate court that issued the warrant and the Inspector General (IG) of Police are disproportionate and unreasonable.

Theu argued that the execution of the warrant would constitute an unjustifiable infringmement the former president’s fundamental right to liberty and security of her person guaranteed under Section 18 of the Constitution.

Banda mmade strenuous effort to obtain a copy of the warrant of arrest, but the authorities have either ignored or refused or otherwise failed to furnish them with a copy of the same.

Cashgate, a corruption scandal in which senior government officials siphoned millions of dollars from state coffers, was uncovered in 2013, while Banda was president.

But Banda made an observation that according to investigations, cashgate occurred between April and August 2013 and that prior to that, “we have evidence that there was another cashgate of MK577 billion theft of public money between 2009 and 2012 that donors and Malawians are pressing for speedy investigation.”

Banda has always insisted of her innocence in Cashgate  and claimed  that there are regime “attempts” to tarnish her name and legacy.

Meanwhile, the former president’s spokesman Andekuche Chanthunya and Nowa Chimpeni, a spokesman for Banda’s People’s Party (PP) have confirmed that she will arrive on Saturday and is scheduled to hold mass rally on Sunday in Blantyre.

According to PP, Banda was returning to rebuild the party ahead of May 2019 elections.

“I can confirm to our followers and Malawians at large that the former president of this country Dr Joyce Banda will be arriving in this country on Saturday,” Chimpeni said.

He added that Banda intended  to “reorganise her party” after many members abandoned it for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) during her four-year absence, in which she lived in the United States, South Africa and Britain.

Chanthunya said Banda is expected to hint on wthether she will contest for the presidency next year, when  she addressed the rally.

“But the general principal is that the  PP convention will decide on who is going to be its presidential candidate,” said  Chanthunya.

Last week Banda was in South African and attended the funeral of anti-apartheid icon Winnie Mandela who she described as her political mentor.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
16 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
TRUM
TRUM
5 years ago

KASAMBALA
JB
CHANTHUNYA
MPHWIYO
ROY KACHALE

JUST GO AND REST IN HELL
AT ZOMBA MAXIMUM PRISON

NOW WE NEED BUSHIRI
A MAN WHO CAN SPIN
THE COUNTRY TO GREATER LEVELS

Chilungamo
Chilungamo
5 years ago

DPP should STOP FOOLING itself and persistently living in DENIAL that CASHGATE started with JB. Kumaona ka chisoso m’maso mwa JB overlooking a BIG LOG in their own.
It’s an open secret that real BACKSTOPPERS& MASTERMINDERS when it comes to CASHGATE are DPP TOP BRASS. For over 5 YEARS now this DPP government has MISERABLY FAILED to ACCOUNT for the K577 billion scam. Ngakhale pa district council level pamakhala deadline ya report submission for an AUDIT QUERY.
So JB is a LESSER EVIL nkhani ya cashgate.
SHAME on all THIEVES.

Kwataine Kachindamoto Wa Kwa Dzida
Kwataine Kachindamoto Wa Kwa Dzida
5 years ago

Mungoyerekeza kuwamanga Amai mudziwanso

santana
santana
5 years ago

It is good that Chimpeni has acknowledged that many of the sinking PP supporters are joining DPP. A thing which is paining MCP because it means the 2014 gap between Chakwera and APM is widening. Look at how the central region is abandoning MCP. We hardly hear people in the south leaving UDF or DPP for MCP. Yet MCP is hopeful of winning the 2019 elections. Maloto a chumba.

Optomus
Optomus
5 years ago
Reply to  santana

Liar Santana! Shame on you.

Central
Central
5 years ago

Malawi police will certainly do it because these days they are acting just like any other DPP regional office…………………………………………………………………………….. where Dausi, Nakhumwa, Msaka, Chaponda, Vuwa and Gondwa just influence everything including beating rivals…………………….!!

Nevertheless, Kadadzela and team should know that chouluka chitela posachedwapa…………………………………….. and some of you mudafunafuna nthaka ikumezeni ndithudi………………………………………..!!

Optomus
Optomus
5 years ago
Reply to  Central

Komabe mayiyu ali gulu la anthu akuba a cashgate Ndipo anayamba kuba nthawi imene anali chairperson wa ADMARC Board, anaba chimanga chambirimbiri anagulitsa kunja. Anamuteteza ndi mbava inzache Muluzi amene pa nthawiyo anali president wa dziko la Malawi. Mayiyu akuyeneradi kumangidwa kuti akayankhe mafunso awiri atatu mkhoti maso ndi maso ndi Paul Mphwiyo. Apolisi ndi ACB chonde gwirani ntchito yanu mosayang’ana nkhope

aMun'na
aMun'na
5 years ago
Reply to  Optomus

Is Joisi Banda is evading questions, a gentle “finya pa nsaya” with no marks left, may do the trick. Gentle, chifukwa samapilila uyo! Next level: double kofi – palm and back of the hand – in a room well insulated for noise. But know your limits, because sense we got rid of that dictator, Kamuzu Banda, we are now a democracy. And no torture is acceptable. Ndalemba pamwambazo si torture ai, koma masewela a m’nende. Ngati bau. She has to divulge: even if it takes specialists interrogators. A trick that may work is if you try Azungu interogators. as Joisi… Read more »

Mtondoli Jonazi
5 years ago

Didn’t know she was still relevant (except to the law enforcement agencies so she can help answer some serious questions). Let us move on already. Ki ki ki

chiluwa
chiluwa
5 years ago

Mai bwerani mudzatiombore chiwongorelo mudapita nacho kunja fikanachoni

Maunits
Maunits
5 years ago

Maunyolo ali ready akuti makiyi ake anasowa kale kale koma ya

AAlex
AAlex
5 years ago

Osamanga awa akugawana ma K3 billion mwanseliwa bwanji. Mukamumanga mupangisa anthu adane ndi boma la DPP. Pezani umboni okwana osati ma revengi anuwo. Already DPP has lost its popularity among the Malawi people. These decisions will only spark fury from people. I think Malawians are not so stupid.

James
James
5 years ago

Mayo ine BOMA langa! Tikufuna kuyambanso zina. There a lot of important issues abale. Akuba ena sitikuwawona achina Goodall, Mulli, Ben Phiri, Chaponda, Itaye ndi ena ambiriwa? Poti tikunena kuti kumpoto sikungachoke president, ndingosamukira kumeneko. Ndatopa kukhala pakati pa mbava ine.

Read previous post:
DPP‘s Mangochi official quits over anti-Muslim rants

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Mangochi District Campaign Director, Wellington Mangulenje, has withdrawn his membership  from the party with...

Close