Former Chief of Staff to the President Prince Kapondamgaga was arrested by police in Lilongwe, though a court order quickly suspended the execution of the arrest warrant pending a legal challenge, reports Malawi24. National Police spokesperson Lael Chimtembo confirmed the arrest but declined to provide specific reasons for the detention.
In a push for greater law enforcement accountability, the Independent Complaints Commission is advocating for legislative reforms to improve its oversight of police conduct, according to Malawi24. ICC Deputy Director of Investigations Grant Kankhulungo stated that the commission needs a standalone law to grant it greater independence and enforcement powers. He noted that the current Police Act framework makes it difficult to hold officers accountable for misconduct.
Meanwhile, a newly released Afrobarometer survey reveals that 72 percent of Malawians cannot afford legal assistance or court-related costs, Nation Online reports. The findings arrive as the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament prepares to engage Chief Justice Rezine Mzikamanda over persistent delays by the Judiciary in issuing judgements. The committee noted extreme cases, including a civil dispute involving an 89-year-old man who has waited 28 years for a verdict.
In corporate crime news, police in Balaka District arrested four Portland Cement employees in connection with the theft of 36 bags of cement valued at approximately K1 million, according to Malawi24. Authorities recovered the stolen goods after receiving a tip-off from a resident who witnessed the bags being offloaded at a private house.
Update: The High Court of Malawi has referred the legal challenge against the relocation of the Malawi Electoral Commission to Chief Justice Rezine Mzikamanda for certification as a constitutional matter, Nation Online reports. This follows a recent stay order granted to the Malawi Congress Party and three legislators that temporarily halted the electoral body's move from Lilongwe to Blantyre.