The call for sympathy over the 27-day detention of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Secretary General Richard Chimwendo Banda has been met with widespread criticism, as ordinary Malawians reject political privilege and instead support the judiciary.
The Director of Youth, Steven Malondera, has come under fire for denouncing the continued detention of Chimwendo Banda, who remains in custody without facing any formal charges.
Malondera had on Wednesday morning posted on Facebook, condemning delays in handling a bail application filed on 24 December, claiming that the lack of a ruling from the court amounted to a denial of due process.
He also said he had been restraining angry MCP youths, who felt the detention reflected selective justice.
However, instead of rallying support, Malondera’s remarks triggered a wave of backlash from ordinary Malawians.
Many accused the MCP leadership of hypocrisy, noting that Chimwendo Banda had previously exercised power over others in similar ways.
Facebook user, Hezlon A. Lungu dismissed calls for sympathy, writing that: “Not malawians andale ndinu amodzi Basi ajaso adanzuzika heavy pano it’s payback syndrome ,and these doesn’t call for Malawians to be sympathetic with inu andale, Ife pano we are focusing popeza chakudya basi.”
Mphatso Billiati Phiri added that the nation “is not shaken” by repeated posts about Chimwendo Banda, recalling that during his tenure as Minister of Homeland Security, others were detained under similar circumstances, and insisting that the current detention should serve as a lesson.
Several commenters also criticised Malondera for attacking the judiciary.
Bruno Mwase warned that describing a judge as “young” undermines legal authority, stating that, “Baba Steven K Malondera please note that a Judge or a Court is never young. Your assertions undermines the legal authority of the court or the Judge. If you have the legal authority or capacity pelekanitu bail’yo….. Timba sachepa ndi madzira ake.”
Newton Chimoto Newthz drew attention to broader justice concerns, noting that many prisoners in Malawi remain on remand for years without trial, and argued that Chimwendo Banda’s case is “not exceptional” despite political attention.
Joel Ng’ambi echoed the sentiment, urging Malondera to stop commenting on judicial matters and warning against language that could be perceived as disrespectful to the presiding judge, adding that Chimwendo Banda should remain in remand until the court decides otherwise.
