Namiwa denies treason charges as prosecutors make surprise bid to revoke his bail

A prominent Malawian activist has pleaded not guilty to treason, as prosecutors launched a shock bid to have his bail revoked — sparking a furious clash with his defence team over the ambush tactics allegedly used.

Sylvester Namiwa, executive director of the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (Cdedi), entered his plea before High Court judge Mzonde Mvula in Lilongwe, denying charges of treason and publishing false news.

The activist appeared in court for plea taking and directions, represented in the dock by his defiant stance against the serious allegations levelled at him.

But it was the State’s surprise move to seek revocation of Namiwa’s bail that sent shockwaves through the courtroom. Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs director of criminal litigation Dzikondianthu Malunda revealed prosecutors’ intention to apply for the revocation — but stunned the defence by failing to give any reasons for the bid.

Namiwa’s lawyer, Gladwell Majekete, did not hold back in condemning the ambush, revealing the defence had objected to the bail bid because it had not been served on them in advance.

‘We were taken by surprise,’ Majekete said. ‘The minimum expectation was that the application to revoke bail would be filed with the court and served upon us. Good practice would demand that it should be filed with the court and served upon us for us even to respond, comment on the same, before the court can hear it.’

The judge has since ordered the State to file and serve the application on the defence by September 16, 2026, with the defence given until September 22 to respond. The court will then hear the application on September 23.

The substantive trial is set to begin on October 14, 2026.

Namiwa was first arrested on July 30, 2026, after responding to a police summons at the National Police Headquarters in Lilongwe, and was initially held on allegations of publishing fake news and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

He was later formally charged with treason under Section 36(1)(a) of the Penal Code, and publication of false news likely to cause public fear and alarm, before the case was escalated to the High Court.

The explosive charges stem from comments Namiwa allegedly made during a July 2024 television interview on Lantha TV, in which he discussed sensitive political matters.

The Ministry of Justice also confirmed the State will parade five witnesses in the case as it proceeds through the courts.