Update: Court Shields Former Finance Minister from Fresh ACB Arrests
The Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate's Court has ordered the state to use summons instead of making further arrests in its pursuit of former Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda, Nyasa Times reports. The ruling follows the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) securing a fresh warrant against Chithyola Banda over allegations that he authorised K29.5 billion in extra-budgetary funding for the Mega Farms Project. Chief Resident Magistrate Austin Banda ruled that any new proceedings must commence through summons, noting that the former minister is already complying with existing bail conditions from a separate case. Prior to the court order, a senior aide dismissed public rumours that Chithyola Banda was evading justice, stating he is fully prepared to cooperate with lawful processes.
Mob Violence and Superstition Spark Arrests in Southern Region
In the southern region, police have arrested nine additional suspects in Nsanje District for spreading false claims that their genitals vanished after encounters with strangers. This brings the total number of arrests over the allegations to 14, according to Nyasa Times. Medical examinations at Nsanje District Hospital revealed no abnormalities among the complainants. National Police Deputy Public Relations Officer Superintendent Alfred Chimthere warned that the rapid spread of these myths is fuelling fear and risking retaliatory violence against innocent individuals suspected of practicing witchcraft.
The panic coincides with a surge in fatal mob violence in the Shire Valley. The National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Public Trust issued a statement condemning recent attacks in Chikwawa and Nsanje districts that have left six people dead following witchcraft and ritual accusations, AfricaBrief reports. NICE Executive Director Gray Kalindekafe described the acts as a gross violation of human rights and urged coordinated action from law enforcement, traditional leaders, and the judiciary to deter further mob justice. Police have so far arrested 45 suspects in connection with the killings across the two districts.