Former President Joyce Banda has publicly accused the government of seizing her security escort vehicle, a move she says was carried out without explanation.

The allegation comes amid rising concerns over the safety of high-profile figures during public engagements, particularly retired leaders who are legally entitled to government-provided security.

Banda highlighted the issue while discussing an incident on Saturday, when her convoy vehicle—used to conduct a public rally—was struck by another car at Njuri in Chiradzulu District.

She was returning from a rally in Blantyre, heading to Zomba, when the collision occurred, raising questions about the adequacy of her security detail in the absence of the escort vehicle.

“While I was returning from the rally in Blantyre, as we were passing through Njuri in Chiradzulu, one of the cars in my convoy, which I was using to conduct the rally, was hit by another vehicle and was damaged,” Banda stated.

She stressed that, as a former Head of State, she is entitled to a leading escort vehicle to alert the public and ensure safety, a standard she says has not been met.

Similarly, Vice President Michael Usi recently revealed that his lead escort vehicle was also confiscated without clear explanation, suggesting a pattern that may extend beyond Banda.

Security analysts warn that the removal of official escort vehicles exposes prominent leaders to heightened risk during public movements, creating potential vulnerabilities in both personal safety and political optics.

Critics argue that these actions may have deeper political undertones, with some observers interpreting the confiscations as an attempt to weaken the visibility or influence of political figures outside the ruling party.

The incidents have sparked debate over the government’s responsibility to safeguard all leaders, current or former, and whether political considerations are being allowed to override established security protocols.

For high-profile figures like Banda and Usi, the seizures not only increase personal risk but also erode public confidence in the government’s ability to uphold law, order, and impartiality.

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