The country’s renowned legal expert Professor Edge Kanyongolo has condemned those calling for the impeachment of President Lazarus Chakwera to provide evidence supporting their calls.
This follows calls from various sections of the society including the opposition party Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that president Chakwera should be impeached for failing to address issues affecting the citizenry.
According to Kanyongolo, a retired Law Lecturer at the University of Malawi, the constitution provides for the impeachment of a president if there is a serious violation of the constitution or serious breach of written laws.
Kanyongolo
Kanyongolo has therefore, said that those making such calls should bring forth enough proof for the impeachment of the president.
“This is a serious issue and it must be done by following the constitution well. I feel like those making the calls are not following the constitution well. Impeaching a president is not just a small issue,” says Kanyongolo.
Simply put, impeachment is the process by which a legislative body or other legally constituted tribunal initiates charges against a public official for misconduct.
It may be understood as a unique process involving both political and legal elements.
In Europe and Latin America, impeachment tends to be confined to ministerial officials as the unique nature of their positions may place ministers beyond the reach of the law to prosecute, or their misconduct is not codified into law as an offense except through the unique expectations of their high office.
Police in Limbe have arrested two men identified as Stanford Patrick,20, and Mavuto Laston,24, on suspicion that they murdered a Kabaza motorcycle operator in Bangwe Township.
Confirming the development to 247 Malawi News, Limbe Police Spokesperson Sergeant Aubrey Singanyama says on August 27, 2023, Bangwe Police received a murder case of Austin Jailosi,17, who was a Kabaza motorcycle operator in the area.
According to Singanyama, after receiving the report, investigations were instituted which led to a successful arrest of the two suspects.
It is further reported that the two suspects also robbed Jailosi (deceased) of his King Lion motorcycle before murdering him.
Currently, the two are in Police custody waiting to appear before court.
Stanford Patrick hails from Sandana village in the area of Traditional Authority(T/A) Mbawala in Thyolo District whilst Mabvuyo Laston is from Musiche Village under Traditional Authority(T/A) Likoswe in Chiradzulu District.
Police have today arrested political activist Bon Kalindo in Lilongwe for allegedly defying bail conditions.
According to National Police Spokesperson Peter Kalaya, the Lilongwe Magistrate Court issued the warrant of arrest for Kalindo on grounds that among others he stopped reporting to Police Regional Office as per his bail conditions.
Said Kalaya: “What Kalindo has done is a crime and we are doing our paper work before we take him to court.”
Kalindo has been arrested hours before he was to lead a protest match to Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
The protests were aimed at pushing for the resignation of President Lazarus Chakwera according to his friend Redson Munlo.
The self-acclaimed political activist was granted bail in January last year after being arrested on suspicion of illegally connecting electricity to his house in Area 25 in Lilongwe.
As President Lazarus Chakwera dedicated Monday, the 28th August 2023, to honour one of Malawi’s most distinguished sons, Prof. Napoleon Dzombe, a disheartening display of political desperation unfolded in Blantyre.
This stark contrast could not have been more poignant: while Chakwera was inaugurating the grand Kalipano Country Resort by Sunbird, an embodiment of local entrepreneurship and prosperity crafted by Prof. Dzombe in his native village, misguided political actors from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) were undermining their credibility at Sunbird Mount Soche.
Amid the backdrop of celebration and growth, the DPP chose a different path by indulging in rhetoric that pointedly showcased their desperation for power. The names of those who led the press conference bear witness to this distressing spectacle: party spokesperson Shadric Namalomba, along with presidential aspirants Dalitso Kabambe, Bright Msaka, and immature and excited political learner Councillor Leonard Chimbanga. These individuals aimed to cast a shadow on the current administration’s efforts, but their words resonated hollow, given their own track records.
President Chakwera took the occasion of Prof. Dzombe’s achievements to underscore the detrimental actions of certain public officials during the DPP’s regime. These individuals had exploited Prof. Dzombe, extracting over K500 million from him and subsequently forcing the philanthropist to abandon an ambitious international bus terminal project in Lilongwe. It was a reminder of the damaging impact of corruption and abuse of power that has, unfortunately, plagued Malawi’s political landscape. The irony of the situation cannot be ignored. The very figures who were once at the helm of governance and who had contributed to the erosion of public trust through corruption were now the voices decrying the very issues they were responsible for perpetuating.
Many of these panelists carry the weight of corruption and misuse of authority court cases hanging over their heads, a testament to their previous actions. It’s evident that the DPP’s press conference at Sunbird Mount Soche was an exercise in futility. The dissonance between their words and their actions is an affront to the Malawian people, who deserve a political discourse based on integrity, accountability, and genuine concern for the nation’s progress. Pointing fingers while ignoring their own culpability only serves to highlight their desperation for a return to power.
Malawi deserves better than political theatrics that lack substance and sincerity. The current administration, led by President Chakwera, is making strides toward rectifying the mistakes of the past, promoting transparency, and uplifting the nation’s economy. As the nation witnesses positive changes and development initiatives, it’s crucial for opposition parties to engage in constructive dialogue rather than resorting to empty rhetoric that only serves to expose their own shortcomings.
In the grand scheme of things, the events at Sunbird Mount Soche serve as a reminder that the Malawian people deserve leaders who are genuinely committed to their well-being. Actions will always speak louder than words, and in this case, the desperate cries for power have fallen on deaf ears.
The legacy of Prof. Dzombe’s entrepreneurial spirit and President Chakwera’s dedication to progress will undoubtedly overshadow the empty discourse of those who seek power for power’s sake.
Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) leader Enock Chihana says he is confident enough that he can fix most of the problems Malawians are facing in the Tonse Alliance administration within 100 days of being in power as Malawi President.
Speaking on Sunday last week in Mangochi during party’s 30 years celebrations of its existence, Chihana said ending hunger crisis, high inflation rate, high poverty rate, corruption and fuel scarcity is not a hard task for him.
“I am urging you Malawians to give me votes come 2025 general elections. I promise you that within 100 days of my leadership, I will try to fix every problem you Malawians are passing through.
“As a party we have solutions to deal with issues rocking the country such as fuel crisis, food shortage, forex crisis among others,”challenged Chihana.
The AFORD leader then called on President Lazarus Chakwera to fire non-perfoming ministers in his cabinet and seek advice from people of goodwill on how to manage state affairs.
“Why keeping a large number of cabinet ministers of which many are failing to perform and deliver the best to Malawians. I want Chakwera to fire some of his non-performing ministers so as he manages the state of affairs well,” he said.
He claimed that the Tonse Alliance administration has lost direction and Malawians are sailing through turbulent waters as the economy is in bad shape.
The AFORD leader added theirs is the only surviving party that can lift the lives of Malawians currently trapped in myriad of challenges.
Chihana also took advantage of the gathering to take a swipe on the National Registration Bureau(NRB) for allegedly registering minors ahead of 26 September by-elections in Mwasa Ward in the district.
He described the development as unfortunate.
He further claimed that about 40 thousand people from other parties have joined AFORD.
