The Malawi Police Service deployed tear gas in Lilongwe on Monday to disperse a violent clash between rival minibus touts, according to Face of Malawi. The altercation erupted at the Shoprite minibus terminal when two groups fought for control of the operating area. One faction reportedly arrived armed with machetes, resulting in a scuffle that left a woman injured and brought local transport operations to a standstill. Following the unrest, the United States Embassy in Lilongwe issued a security alert advising people to avoid the Old Town area due to the large crowds and heavy police presence.
In a separate legal and anti-corruption development, the Malawi Government is facing a $32.6 million, or roughly K57 billion, claim from Romanian firm East Bridge Estate SRL over a disputed fertiliser contract. Nyasa Times reports that the company has issued an ultimatum, threatening to enforce sovereign guarantees and pursue the seizure of Malawian state assets in the United Kingdom, United States, and South Africa if payment is not made by March 10. East Bridge has also notified the government that it is initiating arbitration proceedings at the International Chamber of Commerce in Kenya.
The legal dispute coincides with an active investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) into the government contracts awarded to the firm. According to Nation Online, the ACB recently issued a restriction notice blocking the export of tobacco belonging to East Bridge-linked companies. While East Bridge lawyers argue the seizure is an unlawful tactic to frustrate their commercial contract, ACB acting director general Gabriel Chembezi maintained that the bureau is simply fulfilling its mandate to investigate suspected offenses under the Corrupt Practices Act.