Police nab 27 people ahead of the stopped demos
By Felie Mzumara, Nyasa Times
Malawi Police on Monday night arrested 27 people suspected to have committed various crimes in central region district of Kasungu.
The arrests come amid reports that residents there were geared for the cancelled August 17 national vigils organised by leaders of the civil society groups demanding President Bingu wa Mutharika to address economic and governance problems facing the country.
Kasungu Police spokesperson Edwin Kaunda said the law enforcers nabbed the 27 people after residents became suspicious their movement actions.
“These people were arrested after some residents reported that strange faces suspected to be criminals were just loitering in town,” he said.
The police PRO said that the reported strangers were arrested in rest and guest houses, drinking joints and along the roads.
He said out of the 27, there are 14 men aged between 18 and 35 while 13 are women within the ages of 16 to 25.
“These people will appear before the court any day within the week to answer various charges against them,” said Kaunda.
The police spokesperson could however not provide names of the suspects.
Malawi civil society groups called off the national protests planned for tomorrow, August 17, following a court injunction stopping the vigils and to give time for talks with government which are to be mediated by a team from the United Nations.
This was to be the second nationwide demonstration after the July 20 which left 19 people dead during protests.
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