By Vincent Gunde
Political activist Bon Kalindo, has appreciated the spirit which has been demonstrated by Tadikira Mafubza, the step son of President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, Stanley Chiwa, Norman Chisale, and others,for celebrating Christmas with inmates of Maula Prison in Lilongwe.
Kalindo said this is a good gesture that during this time of festive season, it is good to share a little one has to others, saying Tadikira and others, thought of sharing a little they have with the inmates of Maula prison encouraging them that this should not be the end.
He said next time, they should go to Chichiri, Zomba maximum and Mangochi Prisons to appreciate how prisoners are suffering that instead of the country’s prisons to be reformatory centres, they have turned into deathtraps.
Speaking through an audio clip, Kalindo said there visit to Maula Prison should not be taken as politics observing that people are serving prison sentences not because of politics and that they are neglected members in the society.
Kalindo has asked the new government of the DPP and President Professor Mutharika to look at the country’s prisons with a critical eye claiming that billions of Kwachas are being lost through feeding inmates while there are some who are not deserving to be fed in prison.
He has noted with a grave concern that Prisons in Malawi were built to accommodate the poor people, the rich do not spend months, they are released either on court bail pending appeal or receiving presidential pardons.
The activist said since the country’s prisons are congested with inmates some of whom do not deserve to be in prison, he has appealed to President Professor Mutharika that during this Christmas and New Year 2026 festive season, he should pardon many of those who committed minor offences such as stealing sugarcanes and chickens.
“It is my prayer that President Professor Mutharika will pardon many prisoners to celebrate Christmas and New Year 2026 festivities with their loved ones outside prison,” said Kalindo.
Kalindo has warned the government to tread carefully on ESCOM employees employed from 2022 to 2025 and are being treated as temporary employees arguing that one cannot be a temporary employ for three years, saying if care is not taken, these people may take ESCOM to court and billions of Kwachas will be spent for compensations to them.
He said ESCOM is one of the institution in Malawi blanketed with corruption demanding the Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate corruption related activities by its officers who pretend to be hiring vehicles owned by themselves describing this as corruption in the highest order.
The activist has finally asked government to come to the rescue of some people who applied for loans at NEEF, they paid all the moneys in advance as demanded in the conditions set by NEEF but up to this day, they have not received what they applied for.