Business was brought to a standstill in Parliament on Wednesday when Mzimba North legislator Jeremiah Chihana demanded clarity on why former President Peter Mutharika’s bodyguard Norman Chisale was arrested.
Standing on a point of order, Chihana, who is the Alliance for Democracy (Aford) MP, wanted to know why Chisale was not formally charged after he surrendered himself to the police on Tuesday.
Section 42(2) (b) of the Constitution provides that every person arrested of an offence shall, as soon as it is reasonably possible, but not later than 48 hours after the arrest, or if the period of 48 hours expires outside ordinary court hours or on a day which is not a court day, the first court day after such expiry, to be brought before an independent and impartial court of law and to be charged or to be informed of the reason for his or her further detention, failing which he or she shall be released.
Chihana argued that the reasons behind Chisale’s arrest were political and as such, he is a victim of politics and prisoner of conscious.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) member of Parliament for Mulanje Bale, Victor Musowa said what is happening to Chisale is uncalled for.
“What is happening to Chisale today is wrong, completely wrong,” he said
The views did not go well with the government side, who called them irrelevant.
After a period of exchanging words between the two sides of the house, Second Deputy Speaker of parliament Aisha Adams ruled that the issue was out of order and if the opposition members want it discussed in the House, they should follow proper procedures.
Chisale, a strong and influential DPP member, was arrested for intimidation and obstructing justice.
According to Malawi Police national spokesperson Senior Superintendent Peter Kalaya, the arrest follows complaints lodged by public officers from different institutions who allege that Chisale has been confronting them with sordid threats for their respective roles in criminal cases that he is answering in courts of law or investigated on.
“Mr. Chisale was arrested at National Police Headquarters in Lilongwe where he was summoned. He is currently in police custody awaiting court appearance,” he said.
The arrest came days after Chisale, through an exclusive interview with Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS), attacked minister of justice Titus Mvalo and former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Steve Kayuni on their roles in various cases he is answering.
Chisale called Mvalo a liar and an evil person and accused Kayuni for his suffering.
“I am suffering, my family and children are suffering because of Kayuni. When I was on remand, I wrote his office asking for K5 million for my child’s school fees, but he refused. I will never forgive Kayuni. God should deal with him,” said a visibly angry Chisale.
