Malawi Congress Party (MCP) secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda has filed an urgent appeal in the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal to stay a 90-day remand warrant issued on December 15, 2025, by the Chief Resident Magistrate Court in Lilongwe.
The hearing for this appeal is set for January 9, 2026, before Justice of Appeal Dorothy Nyakaunda Kamanga.
Chimwendo Banda is currently on remand at Maula Prison, awaiting a High Court ruling on his bail application before Justice Mzonde Mvula of the High Court in Lilongwe.
In an interview, Judiciary spokesperson Ruth Mputeni confirmed that Chimwendo Banda sought an order to stay or suspend the warrant, describing the move as a bid for relief from detention.
Justice of Appeal Dorothy Nyakaunda Kamanga will hold an inter-partes hearing on January 9, 2026, following the application.Chimwendo Banda’s lawyer, George Jivason Kadzipatike, emphasized that the bail application in the High Court and the appeal in the Supreme Court of Appeal are separate and independent.
Kadzipatike stressed the urgency of Chimwendo Banda’s release, stating, “What we want is the quickest release of Honourable Chimwendo from the unlawful detention.”He added, “He is innocent, and the State has not provided any piece of evidence linking him to the allegations of attempted murder up to now.”
Kadzipatike further noted, “A minute in unlawful detention is too long. Should the High Court deliver its ruling, there will be no need to proceed with the application in Supreme Court of Appeal.”
Justice Mvula heard the bail application on December 24, 2025, and is yet to rule on the matter after submissions from both the defence and State.
The developments highlight the ongoing legal battle faced by Chimwendo Banda amidst attempted murder allegations.
The case raises questions about Malawi’s judicial processes and the implications of Chimwendo Banda’s detention on the MCP, potentially impacting the party’s operations and Chimwendo Banda’s role.
Malawi’s judicial system is designed to ensure fairness and justice, but cases like this test its efficacy and transparency.
The outcome of Chimwendo Banda’s appeal and bail application may have significant implications for his future and the MCP’s trajectory.
