LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)—Malawi police has for the sixth time on Monday extended bail for Malawi Congress Party lawmakers Jessie Kabwira, Peter Chankhwatha and MCP member Ulemu Msungama to October 3, 2016. The trio were arrested and charged with treason and sedition charges. The state claims that the trio was scheming on how to topple President Peter Mutharika’s government.In an exclusive interview with The Maravi Post soon after the trio appeared at Area 30’s Police Headquarters in the capital Lilongwe, Gustavo Kaliwo, the lawyer representing the accused expressed sadness over the continued extension of the bail describing the conduct as torture towards the clients.
Kaliwo who is also MCP Secretary General hinted that it was clear that the state lacks sufficient evidence on the alleged coup plot saying within the two months, the Defence team will take unspecified action against the police.
“The bail application has once again extended to October 3, 2016. They keep on giving us the same reasons that they are still investigating. Based on the circumstance the three underwent upon their arrest in February, we thought the state had imminent evidence to take them to court.
“My clients have businesses to run. They have constituencies to represent comfortably. But this unfinished business is emotionally and socially affecting them.
“This is wasting our time and energy to always be visiting the police for nothing. Though we don’t want to take our hands on the state for this unruly conduct, there’s no choice but to take unspecified action on the police to stop this madness,” fumed Kaliwo.
Dr. Kabwira, a legislator for Salima North West Constituency said the bail extension was affecting her to programme on her role as SADC Parliamentary Woman Caucus Chairperson.
Kabwira challenged the state to produce the evidence against them on the alleged treason saying the motive was to suffocate the insightful role they play as an opposition party on the mess DPP government has inflicted on Malawians.
Efforts to get reasons for the continued bail extension from Thomeck Nyaude, Deputy National Police Spokesperson proved futile as he kept on cutting the line when this reporter introduced the subject to him.
