Malawi President Bingu wa Mutarika feels threatened
Police in Malawi have arrested four opposition officials and past-security chiefs after the President complained of a plot to overthrow him. Those arrested include a former Army commander and Police Chief. President Bingu wa Mutharika also accused his predecessor Bakili Muluzi of being behind a plot to remove him by Friday the May 16. Mr. Muluzi, who is out of the country, and his United Democratic Front party have denied the claims.
According to media reports the homes of former Army Commander General Joseph Chimayo, former Inspector-General of Police, Joseph Aironi, UDF Secretary General Kennedy Makwangwala and former Blantyre Mayor John Chikakwiya were raided this morning. They were briefly held at the police headquarters in Blantyre before being transferred to the capital, Lilongwe, for interrogation.
The Information Minister has denied that the arrests are politically motivated, and insisted that they have been arrested as any other citizen would if they broke the country’s laws.
