By: Lloyd M’bwana
The Malawi Police Services have finally on Monday afternoon, February 22, succumbed to pressure by releasing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) official Ulemu Msungama on bail and charged him with treason.
Ezekiel Ching’oma, MCP’s deputy Publicity Secretary confirmed the release of Msungama to The Maravi Post the bail was granted through Gustavo Kaliwo who is also the party’s Secretary General as he is a lawyer.
Ching’oma said the party is yet to make a statement later in the day as what transpired regarding to the arrest of its official on the alleged coup plot over WhatsApp conservation the officials had in January this year on plans to unseat the incumbent President Peter Mutharika for failing to fix the ailing economy.
“Indeed, Ulemu Msungama has been released on bail but charged with treason. We are still learning more on what transpired prior to his arrest. Currently, we are with him at our headquarters in the capital Lilongwe. The party will make a statement after is being briefed by the Secretary General-Kaliwo who represented him”, confirms Ching’oma.
When asked the whereabouts of Dr. Jessie Kabwira and Chankhwatha upon missing for some days following the Malawi Police hunt on coup plot allegation, Ching’oma said the party was not yet aware where the two were hiding.
“We haven’t heard anything yet of the two but we are sure that are safe and hoping that we will be together in the afternoon for the opening of the budget review parliament session”, assures Ching’oma.
The morning of Monday, People’s Party leadership including Uladi Musa, Ibrahim Matola and Ken Msonda paid courtesy visit at Kanengo Police for showing solidarity to their counterpart over the alleged coup plot.
Their visit mounted pressure at the police as MCP and PP supporters demanded the release of Msungama who was later around 10:00 hours was secretly transferred to Area 30, The Police headquarters for further interrogation on treason.
The development eventually ended up in a verbal fight between the police and MCP supporters who later move to Area 30, where they were chanting and demanding the release of Msungama.
Msungama successfully challenged Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) 2014 tripartite election results of Lilongwe City South East constituency whereby the High Court declared the constituency vacant hence ordered the rerun but Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Bentley Namasasu obtained a straining order from of the Supreme Court of Appeal against the lower court ruling in October, 2014.
It’s almost two years elapsed after the Malawi Supreme Court of granted MP Namasasu an injunction stopping the rerun of the seat following High Court order which is seen as denying justice to MCP Msungama.
