MALAWI: Speaker to Engage Police IG Over Arrest of MPs — Chithyola Banda

By Smile Hamilton Malawi

Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Simplex Chithyola Banda, says Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman has committed to engaging the Inspector General of Police regarding the arrest of two Members of Parliament while Parliamentary Committee meetings were in session.

Chithyola Banda, who led a group of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Members of Parliament to the meeting with the Speaker, told African Culture TV that the matter was treated with urgency. “The Speaker has assured us that he will engage the Inspector General of Police on the arrest of our colleagues who were picked up while committee business was ongoing,” said Chithyola Banda.

He added that the opposition also raised broader concerns about the safety and security of Members of Parliament. “We made it very clear that the safety of MPs is critical if Parliament is to function freely and independently,” he said.

The two MPs arrested are Sosten Gwengwe, who chairs Parliament’s Budget Committee, and Sam Kawale, a member of the Transport Committee. Both remain in police custody despite their respective committees being in session at the time of their arrest.

Chithyola Banda said MCP MPs will not resume attending committee meetings until the two lawmakers are released. “As MCP, we have resolved that we will not return to committee meetings until our colleagues are freed,” he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, MCP MPs boycotted all Parliamentary Committee meetings in protest against the arrest of Gwengwe and Kawale, describing the development as an attack on parliamentary processes an

d democracy.