By Chisomo Phiri
Malawi Congress Party (MCP ) Secretary General (SG ) Richard Chimwendo Banda has petitioned the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal to stay a 90-day remand warrant issued on December 15, 2025, by the Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court, as higher courts prepare to examine the basis of his continued detention.
The application is scheduled to be heard on January 9, 2026, before Justice of Appeal Dorothy Nyakaunda Kamanga.
The former minister is also awaiting a ruling from the High Court in Lilongwe on a separate bail application heard by Justice Mzonde Mvula.
Judiciary spokesperson Ruth Mputeni confirmed that Chimwendo Banda, who remains on remand at Maula Prison, is seeking an order to suspend the remand warrant pending further court determinations.
She said the Supreme Court of Appeal will conduct an inter partes hearing on the matter on January 9.
Meanwhile,in a separate interview, Chimwendo Banda’s lawyer, George Jivason Kadzipatike, said the defence is challenging both the legality and necessity of the continued detention through independent legal channels.
“The bail application in the High Court and the application for a stay of the remand warrant in the Supreme Court of Appeal are separate processes addressing different legal issues,” said Kadzipatike.
He argued that the State has failed to justify the continued detention of his client.
“Our position is that Chimwendo’s detention is unlawful, and so far the State has not presented evidence linking him to the allegations of attempted murder,” said Kadzipatike.
He added that a ruling on bail by the High Court could make the Supreme Court of Appeal application redundant.
Justice Mvula heard the bail application on December 24, 2025, and reserved his ruling after receiving submissions from both the defence and the State.
