Former President Lazarus Chakwera accused his successor, Peter Mutharika, on Thursday of overseeing a campaign of intimidation and “unlawful arrests, and the abuse of due process” aimed at silencing opposition figures, calling the pattern a “dangerous collapse” of the rule of law.
In a formal statement, Chakwera said he has notified President Mutharika of what he described as politically motivated actions against leaders of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). “This includes individuals whose only crime is exercising their freedom of speech,” the statement said.
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Chakwera singled out the month-long detention of the MCP secretary general, who was held without charge or the option of bail. The detention was later overturned by the High Court, which ruled that the police had violated the Constitution.
The former president did not identify additional detained figures by name in the released statement, nor did it include a response from President Mutharika or government spokespeople. Chakwera’s comments, however, add to growing concern among opposition leaders over what they say is an intensified pattern of legal action and police measures against political rivals.
Legal experts say a High Court finding that police violated constitutional protections carries weight but does not itself provide remedy for alleged political targeting unless followed by prosecutions of officials responsible or clear policy changes at the police and prosecutorial levels.
Chakwera’s statement framed the incidents as systematic. He said he had formally informed the president of the alleged abuses and urged action to halt what he characterized as an erosion of democratic norms. The former president used stark language to describe the trend, saying the actions amounted to a “dangerous collapse” of the rule of law.
Observers noted the political sensitivity of public accusations between current and former heads of state. The lack of an immediate response from the presidency means the claims stand in the public domain without official rebuttal. Human rights groups and the legal community may now await further developments, including any investigations launched in response to the High Court’s finding.
For the MCP, the overturned detention underscored the party’s complaints that its officials are being subjected to legal processes that its leaders say are motivated by politics rather than legitimate law enforcement concerns. The party has repeatedly called for independent scrutiny of arrests and prosecutions involving its members.
As the dispute plays out, the High Court’s ruling remains a pivotal fact: it found police action unconstitutional in the detention of a senior MCP official, a judgment that critics say highlights broader questions about due process and the independence of law enforcement.
By News-room
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
