Man pleads guilty for attacking Malawi President’s portrait: “I am suffering’

A 37-year-old Aaron Mbengo from Samilani Village in Traditional Authority’s Chilipa area in Balaka pleaded guilty  to attacking a portrait of   President Peter Mutharika at Limbe Police Station, saying he felt the President is doing nothing to instill positive change in the country.

Limbe Police spokesperson Pedzisai Zembeneko said Mbengo, on January 13 around 1pm went to Limbe Police Station where he pulled down the president’s portrait and headed out with it.

When he got outside, Mbengo started destroying the portrait.

Police arrested him and paraded him before the Midima Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, and pressed the charge of malicious damage which is contrary to Section 344 of the Penal Code.

Mbengo did not waste the court’s time as he straight away pleaded guilty to  “willfully and unlawfully destroying the portrait of the President, a property of Malawi Government, on January 13 this year.”

He told the court: “I have been suffering since Joyce Banda’s administration and I was expecting that the next president who would change the situation but I have been reading on the internet that things are just getting worse. I am still suffering.”

Magistrate Watson Mankhanamba  ordered that the accused be examined by a mental hospital to assess his sanity before the case continues.