Warrant of arrest issued for Mtumodzi: ‘Accused of inciting revolt in Malawi’

The Lilongwe Magistrate Court has issued a warrant of arrest to police  for activist Chikumbutso Mtumodzi, a former spokesman of late president Bingu wa Mutharika, on allegations that he was inciting venderos to revolt against government.

Mtumodzi confirmed in a telephone interview with Nyasa Times that he has been told that he is a wanted person.

“I have learnt about the warrant of arrest. There is no iota of truth in the allegations of revolt,” said the Dziki Radio owner.

He said the issue stems from the meeting he was organising with the vendors under the  Reform to Transform movement  led by Presdient Peter Mutharika’s fierce critic,  Z Allan Ntata.

“We have been meeting  and street vendors whose goods were confiscated by Lilongwe City Council (LCC),” said Mtumodzi.

He said the meeting was organized to finding a solution on how to recover the confiscated goods from LCC or get compensation from government’s Youth Development Fund (YEDEF)’s K6 billion.

“As patriotic Malawians and good Christians we feel sorry for our brothers whose goods were confiscated. These vendors depend on vending for survival and looking at the current financial crisis that this country is currently going through, we feel it’s not fair,” said Mtumodzi.

He also bemoaned on that attacks he has been receiving for his role in the movement, the recent being a physical assualt by thugs last week.

Mtumudzi was attacked by unknown thugs and he went to a private clinic where he was treated for “burns and constusion” according to the medical report seen by Nyasa Times.

His movement is requesting government to either give back the goods or give each vendor an amount of K40, 000. The amount is also being proposed for those who were physically attacked or injured during the LCC cleanup exercise.

LCC has lately been chasing vendors trading illegally in the city’s streets.