‘Not guilty’: MEC’s Kunje, driver plead to charges of endangering President Chakwera’s life
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Commissioner Linda Kunje has entered a plea of “not guilty” to charges the State levelled against her for allegedly obstructing President Lazarus Chakwera’s convoy on Thursday.
Kunje, who handed herself to police on Monday after the Eastern Region Police Headquarters in Zomba launched a manhunt for her, took the plea when she appeared before Zomba senior resident magistrate court on Tuesday.
She is charged alongside her driver John Tewesa.
The State slapped the two with a charge of reckless and neglect act, contrary to Section 246 (a) of the Penal Code as read with Section 21 (c) of the Penal Code.
Senior Resident Magistrate Hellen Kachala asked if they understood the charges, the two said “yes” and denied them.
“How do you plea?” Magistrate Kachala asked Kunje.
“I plead not guilty,” she responded.
Regional Prosecution Officer Josephine Chigawa asked the court that the two should be sent on remand while the State is still investigating the matter.
She told the court that they are a risk flight and might not report to the court adding that the two may interfere with investigations once released on bail.
Kunje’s lawyer Chimwemwe Kalua however that Kunje is a public figure who cannot escape bail conditions and can be easily traced.
Kachala has since reserved her bail ruling for Thursday.
Chakwera was on Thursday morning travelling from Blantyre to Chancellor College, a constituent college of the University of Malawi (Unima) in Zomba where he was installed as the university’s Chancellor before presiding over a graduation ceremony.
Kunje, a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-sponsored commissioner, is reported to have been travelling from Zomba to Blantyre.
Sauka said Kunje’s vehicle almost had a head on collision with two police vehicles (a police vehicle called a sweeper which clears the road minutes before the presidential convoy passes and a leading police vehicle on the convoy) as her vehicle was still moving towards the motorcade despite being stopped by traffic police officers several times.
Kunje has since been remanded at Domasi Prison , according to Eastern Region Police Public Relations officer Joseph Sauka.
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Kunje ndi mzimayi wa mwano ndipo onyasa nkhope ndi mtima. She and Namathanga are identical she must have told driver to carry on driving. I feel sorry for driver amangomvera bwana wake. Please mmangeni for 4 weeks asiye mwano
Kunje as a frequent road user and as a public figure knows that whenever a presidential convoy we give way. It only takes less than 5 minutes to stand aside. We have done that for APM and JB who were the other presidents that frequently used the road. Kamuzu was using a jet or helicopter and Bingu as well.
She is just a SAVAGE. She exaggerates herself in almost everything ranging from intellectual abilities to eloquence in spoken English…… assertiveness, women advocacy…… beauty.
Kaya mwina ufiti chabe wa kwawo ndi makobiri okuba a DPP womwewa kapeni, nanga amazipopa chani amayiwa????
Inalipo nthawi ya campaign mmene Chakwera ndi Chilima amakamba za convoy?
Kunje amandionekera ngati cha mpunga mkati bwanji?
Koma 2025 kuzakhala kumangana osati sewero. Tit-for-tat. Tsoka lake omangidwa azakhala a MCP okhaokha chifukwa UTM izakhala itapanga mgwirizano ndi DPP ndipo azawina
Koma amai wa akanakhala kuti ndiwowoneka bwino town yo ya Zomba ikanava mazi ndithu.Komatu see her clearly manowo ndi dental formulae ndithu.
Kunje izi zoziyamba dala , this woman is very stubborn. They stoped u then you keep on driving towards the presidential motorcade.
What was your motive ? Learn to respect the Law as Peter Muntharika used to say even though u dislike Chakwera but u could have bid by the law.
Sometimes going to school doesn’t solve your stubbornness, I have witnessed this through you Kunje.
Kodi a President sananene a month or two ago kuti zoimitsa galimoto za anthu ena zithe iwo akakhala paulendo
Let me quote what Brian Banda said while he was at Times TV just before he joined state house: “Wina asamayende bang bang pamene wina wamangidwa ndi unyolo mulandu omwewo”
I agree. Why is the driver in handcuffs but not Kunje? Both are being charged for the same offence. I dont think both of them should be in handcuffs. The police are using Handcuffs to show power. Though I disagree with Kunje’s general attitude to authority she doesnt like, I dont think these two would run away into the bushes or are a danger to anyone during the proceedings. POLICE STOP USING HANDCUFFS unless there is good reason to do so.
Tsono zikutheka bwanji,wina in hand cuffs while the other is not pamene mlandu ndi umodzi kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk,dziko ili kukondera
Alibe unyolo wokwanira kumanga tonse
Sukudziwa kuti azimai samalandira unyolo? Palinso zokondera apa.Bolani a judge wa amukanirebe bail amve kuwawa Chimwemwe
The women should also be handcuffed… Some women can be stronger and faster than men… Like caster simenya in south africa. Women with both sex organs and high testestorone hormone.. The male hormone
Mzimai savekedwa unyolo malinga ndi malamulo a dzikoli pokhapokha if she is resisting a lawful arrest
Obeying the laws is part of our civil responsibility.Those on convoy have a duty to protect the head of State and this is not only happening in Malawi. She knows it….amathamangira zofunika zake za mtundu wanji iyeyo kuti sangaime? ….honestly, what do you loose when you can stop for a minute or two? Kodi nanga akanaimisidwa ndi a traffic sakanaima? What could have taken longer, stpped by traffic police or presidential convoy? Let’s be serious. Nde vuto lonyasa ndi mtima omwe ndi limenelo… I bet she told the driver kuti usaime (this poor driver Mr John Tewesa kungofera kufuna ntchito).… Read more »