The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has urged the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to allow the legal system to operate independently, dismissing claims that the ruling party is targeting senior MCP officials for political reasons.
DPP spokesperson Shadrick Namalomba, speaking in an interview with Malawi24, emphasized that Malawi is governed by law, not partisan interests.
He accused MCP leaders of having previously manipulated legal processes while in power and suggested the party now uses such allegations to deflect accountability.
“Those who have not broken the law should feel safe, but anyone who has must face the consequences,” Namalomba said, framing the ongoing legal proceedings as standard enforcement rather than political persecution.
Earlier, the MCP condemned the arrests of Secretary General Richard Chimwendo Banda, Vitumbiko Mumba, and publicity secretary, Jessie Kabwira, calling them politically motivated.
Chimwendo Banda faces charges of attempted murder, while the charges against Mumba and Kabwira are yet to be disclosed.
The party described the arrests as a “textbook case of political witch-hunting,” alleging that state institutions were being used to undermine opposition leadership and disrupt democratic processes.
In a statement, the MCP accused the government of eroding public confidence in law enforcement and democracy, warning that selective enforcement and the criminalization of opposition figures divert attention from pressing national issues.
The party highlighted economic hardships, including rising food and fuel prices, foreign exchange shortages, and a national food insecurity crisis.
Reiterating its commitment to the rule of law, the MCP called for the immediate cessation of politically motivated arrests and urged transparency, due process, and the depoliticization of law enforcement agencies.
The party expressed confidence in the judiciary’s ability to uphold justice despite political pressures.
