YAS condemn arrest of harmless son of Bishop Chirwa at Mutharika rally: Malawi police ‘acted foolishly’

Youth and Society (YAS) executive director Charles Kajoloweka has condemned last week’s arrest a 15-year-old boy Henry Chirwa for allegedly carrying a maize stalk at President Peter Mutharika’s rally at Luwinga in Mzuzu, describing police move as acting “foolishly”.

The boy, a son of Bishop Thomson Chirwa of Abundant Life Ministry in Mzuzu, spent a night in a cell at Mzuzu Police Station but there was no proper charge pressed against him.

He was given bail but Police indicated unknown charge in the Penal Code called ‘Mankhambira’

But the boy comes from Traditional Authority (T/A) Mankhambira in Nkhata Bay, according to Northern Region Police deputy spokesperson Maurice Chapola.

Kajoloweka condemned as “awful” police action to arrest the boy for holding a maize stalk at the presidential rally which was interpreted as a protest that people are suffering with hunger.

He said police should “immediately” and “unconditionally” ensure that the arrested boy is discharged and hold accountable those who carried out the arrests.

Kajoloweka argued there was no offence that the 15-year-old committed, asking the police to come out clear on the arrest and stop harassing Malawians.

Bishop Chirwa complained that his son was thrown in a police cell without justification, saying as a Malawian youth he has a right to attend the President’s rally.

“Police claim that my son was 15 metres away from the President and he was holding a maize stalk hence they arrested him,” said Chirwa.