By Vincent Gunde
Activist Sylvester Namiwa was granted bail on Friday after the Defence team fulfilled all the requirements including K5 million cash bond and sureties.
Beside the court granted Namiwa bail, Malawians were later informed through various media platforms that Namiwa was taken back to Maula Prison because papers processed for his bail were not concluded meaning that he was to spend the Weekend in the hands of police.
As all Malawians were all aware that Namiwa was at Maula Prison, their expectations were that he would walk to freedom on Monday as courts do not work over the Weekend.
Malawians had to shook their heads as if they have horns in disbelief on Saturday been informed that Namiwa was released from Maula Prison, a day after the High Court of Malawi granted him bail on the previous day.
Many questions are still ringing in the mind of Malawians that when were the papers for Namiwa’s release processed, was it late Friday after working hours or on Saturday morning and who went to Maula Prison to release him?
One of the condition Namiwa was ordered is not to speak of the matter currently being heard in court, millions of Malawians still today have answers as to why Namiwa was released a day after the High Court granted him bail.
A concerned citizen of Malawi Mrs. Elizabeth Kaliza Banda has joined calls for the Judiciary to give an explanation on Namiwa’s bail on Saturday for the matter to rest in peace.
Kaliza Banda said suspects are being granted bail or acquitted in court and they go to their respective homes straight away from the courts and not from prison.
She said the explanation that papers processed for Namiwa’s release were delayed, cannot be welcomed by many Malawians who have tasted prison corridors hence the court to give its side of the story.
“Is it the treason charge that made Namiwa to go back to Maula Prison after the High Court granted him bail or his punishment was not enough for him to be released from police custody?” Questioned Kaliza Banda.
She has appealed to human rights organizations to join hands to seek justice for Namiwa at the Supreme Court of Appeal for the unlawful detention at Maula Prison after the High Court gave him bail to walk to freedom on Friday afternoon.
