Maravi

Muluzi explains coup allegations to The Post

Muluzi explains coup allegations to The Post
By Abigail Chaponda
Wednesday May 28, 2008 [04:00]

FORMER Malawian president Bakili Muluzi yesterday described his arrest as rubbish.
In a telephone interview from Malawi, Muluzi said his arrest was a laughable matter and that he was not scared of President Bingu Wa Mutharika. "Dr Wa Mutharika is a scared man. It is a segment of imagination coming from a scared President who is afraid of the next elections. He is afraid of me because he knows that he can't stand with me in the election. That is why he ordered that I should be arrested. Let him do what he wants, I'm not scared," Muluzi said.

He denied allegations that he plotted a coup against President Wa Mutharika, saying issues that were non-existent were being brought up to intimidate him.

"I am not going to be intimidated by whatever Dr Wa Mutarika is going to do or say. He can't stand with me and I can assure you that he is a scared man," Muluzi said, adding that he was not a person who could easily be intimidated by anyone.
He said he was a man of vision who would not lose focus regardless of what President Wa Mutharika did. Muluzi argued that there was no way a person could be arrested without a warrant. He said the officers that approached him at the time of his arrest at the airport in Lilongwe did not issue him with a warrant.

"How can you arrest someone without a warrant, tell me? I don't buy what they are doing because they are afraid of me, and can you imagine that they have told me that I'm under house arrest without giving me an order? How can this be possible?" Muluzi asked.
However, Muluzi said he would meet President Wa Mutarika at the next elections.
Muluzi, upon arrival from holiday in the UK on Sunday, was placed under house arrest on allegations that he connived with security chiefs to overthrow President Bingu Wa Mutharika early this month. He was flown in a military aircraft from Lilongwe to Blantyre for detention at his residence.

And according to Malawi's Daily Times, police in Blantyre on Monday interrogated Muluzi in connection with the alleged plot to overthrow President Wa Mutharika.
Head of Criminal Investigations Unit (CID) David Nyondo led a team of four police officers who went to Muluzi's home at his BCA Hill residence where he is under house arrest.

One of Muluzi's lawyers Jai Banda said in an interview that the four officers faced Muluzi around 15:00 hours together with his team of four lawyers who included himself, Ralph Kasambara, Fahad Assani and David Kanyenda.

"They based their interrogation on the same document, which was dismissed by the court during the bail application for the other treason suspects," said Banda.
He confirmed that Muluzi denied all the allegations against him in connection to the coup plot, including knowledge on the document that was presented to him.

Banda added that the four officers also linked one of Muluzi's lawyers, Kasambara, to the treason case, and promised that they would come for him at an appropriate time.
The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday confirmed that Muluzi was effectively under house arrest and that his BCA residence had been sealed off.

Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Ernest Malenga said state security was investigating Muluzi on the alleged coup plot but he was yet to be formally charged.
"Muluzi's arrest is a continuation of arrests in connection to the coup plot. However, let me clearly indicate here that nobody has been formerly charged with treason. There is a misconception that all those that have been arrested have been charged with treason, but that is not true. Yes, I can confirm that Muluzi is under house arrest in connection with the same case but he is yet to be interrogated and enter plea," said Malenga.
There was heavy presence of police at BCA Hill on Monday and nobody was allowed to enter or come near the house.

Those barred from Muluzi's home included his son Atupele who had to take lunch outside the gates of his father's house in view of security officers who are guarding the road leading to the home.

With him was Friday Muluzi, the former president's brother who was told that he needed clearance from the Inspector General of Police to enter Muluzi's residence.
Muluzi's security guards had been disarmed and asked not to come near the former president's residence but instead report at the Police Mobile Service (PMF) B company in Limbe or Southern Region Police headquarters in Blantyre.

According to Banda, police had asked Muluzi to provide a list of close relatives and lawyers who would be allowed to visit him at his residence but that he had not yet done so.

Banda said currently only the lawyers were allowed to visit him.
Two weeks ago, police arrested Muluzi's United Democratic Front (UDF) secretary general Kennedy Makwangwala, former Blantyre City mayor John Chikakwiya, former army commander general Joseph Chimbayo, retired Inspector General of police Joseph Airon, retired commissioner of police Matthews Masoapyola, former boss of the now defunct National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) Chitsulo Gama, serving army brigadiers Marcel Chirwa, Cosgrove Mituka and Juvenalis Mtende in relation to the coup plot
All of the suspects, except Gama, were released last week Tuesday on bail by the High Court in Lilongwe.

Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, MALAWI

posted by MrK @ 3:39 AM