By Tiyese Monjeza:
The Liwonde First Grade Magistrate Court sitting in Zomba Wednesday granted bail to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) member of Parliament for Machinga Central East, David Chikwanje, who is accused of inciting violence.
Chikwanje, who is also the party’s Eastern Region governor, was arrested on Monday after a video clip in which he allegedly incited attacks on people wearing Malawi Congress Party regalia went viral on social media.
Among the bail conditions set by Liwonde First Grade Magistrate Maxwell Boasi are that Chikwanje pays K450,000, provides two sureties, each of whom must pay K450,000, and reports to Liwonde Police Station every Friday.
He was represented in court by a team consisting of Cassius Chidothi, Yusuf Nthenda and Ishmael Wesley, who had earlier applied to the court for bail.
Among the grounds for bail presented by the defence lawyers was the assertion that the State lacked seriousness in the case, as they had yet to record statements from the accused.
Chidothi further questioned why the State had not yet served the court with a charge sheet, which prevented Chikwanje from entering a plea.
For his part, Police Prosecutor for the Eastern Region, Louis Makiyi, asked the court for 14 days to complete their investigations.
He requested that the court allow law enforcement to keep Chikwanje on remand until the investigations are finalised.
After a 20-minute adjournment, Boasi proceeded to grant bail to Chikwanje, saying that the decision was in the best interest of the law.
There was a heavy police presence, with around 50 law enforcers spotted at the court.
Notable figures from DPP included the party’s vice-president for the Eastern Region, Bright Msaka, and former vice-president for the Southern Region, George Chaponda.
Several stakeholders have since condemned incitement of political violence, saying it risks driving the country into chaos ahead of the 2025 elections.
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