‘Not guilty’: MEC’s Kunje, driver  plead  to charges of endangering President Chakwera’s life

December 16, 2020 Zawadi Chilunga- Nyasa Times 51 Comments

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 together with her driver Tewesa (in handcuffs) captured at court

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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51 replies on “‘Not guilty’: MEC’s Kunje, driver  plead  to charges of endangering President Chakwera’s life”

  1. 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

  2. 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.

    1. 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????

  5. Koma amai wa akanakhala kuti ndiwowoneka bwino town yo ya Zomba ikanava mazi ndithu.Komatu see her clearly manowo ndi dental formulae ndithu.

  6. 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.

  7. Kodi a President sananene a month or two ago kuti zoimitsa galimoto za anthu ena zithe iwo akakhala paulendo

  8. 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”

    1. 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.

    2. Sukudziwa kuti azimai samalandira unyolo? Palinso zokondera apa.Bolani a judge wa amukanirebe bail amve kuwawa Chimwemwe

      1. 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

  10. 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). Lero wavala unyolo ana ake aona kuti dad amangidwa…….all because of Linda Kunje.

  12. So she’s willing to spend two nights in a filthy Malawian cell for the sake of the corrupt DPP?

    Fools are really born every day!

  13. The whole convoy thing needs reviewing as they pose a danger to road users. Why can’t the president move at a normal speed in a normal manner along the road? Speeding is dangerous and really why is a big convoy needed?

    4. I completely agree! This over zealous police and security personnel is completely out of order! It is dangerous and serves nobody! It would be very desirable when police would act only half way this fast in privat cases!
      This is why the conveys are involved in so many road accidents where mostly civilians lost their lives! By the way, was it not a election promise to reduce the seize and the blocking of roads over several long minutes! We voted Tonse for a change, but it still remains the same old story!

  14. Secondly, arresting people before you have completed the investigation is the same as detention without trial which was practised under old mcp. Malawi Congress party will never be reformed. These arbitrary arrests will get worse and common I tell you.

    1. You just dislike MCP but it will still control you.Whether you like it or not bambo.
      Anywhere in the Country the head of state is protected person and failing to stop is a total criminal minded and this is treason case and it is important to transfer it to High Court. This woman is too much of herself and need not be represented. I think the lawyer has no clients hence took the matter. Very clear case like it and the lawyer want to twist it. The woman is rude.

  15. The state is laughable, and the only reason the state is wasting time and also money in order to silence madam kunje and prevent her from sitting as a commissioner. Mbuzi za tonse izi

  17. Spot arrest for traffic offences and the arrest of Kunje was an afterthought after consulting with Chimwendo Banda . This government is slowly turning unto the old devil MCP worse still it is being headed by a reverend who fell from the hand of God.

  18. Apolice bwanji mwanjata driver yekha?Tsono o kunje muwazenga bwanji ngati simdawakwidzinge?Mulikondera kaya apa.Onzanu sotero

      1. What if its a strong body builder with big muscles female with a black belt karate martial art… Or transgender female

  19. Is it just me?

    Or did the president not just he does not want people to be delayed on his account?

    The two were going in the opposite corrections,Why sweep the whole road?

    Nthanga kunena……!!! A pisa likongwe.

    1. Presidential convoy the cars move side by side means they use both lanes that’s why Kunje was supposed to give way

    3. Actually page 21 of MCP 2019-2024 Manifesto extracts:
      “-Discontinue stopping traffic when the president is passing by so as to minimise public disturbances as much as possible”
      I sign off!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      1. Is the MCP manifesto Malawi Cconstitution??? cite the constitution ya dziko provision yake osati manifesto achipani, nde ubongo kusakanikilanako

    1. No! People must learn to follow rules. A simple road traffic rule but anali phwii kukula mtima just like she never went to school. This is good now. Akakulire mtima.Ku prison

  22. Do you understand the charges? “yes” how do you plea? “i plead not guilty” buhahahahaha muhahahaha this stupidity is way overrated

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