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UDF secretary general Kennedy Makwangwala, who is facing arrest on suspicion that he damaged two vehicles belonging to Ntcheu Bwanje South MP Marjorie Ngaunje in the run up to the May 20 general elections, has said government is witch-hunting and plotting to weaken the UDF by arresting senior party officials.
Makwangwala said his impending arrest is political because he too had his two vehicles damaged by Ngaunje during the campaign period.
“My arrest is political and not criminal as the government is alleging. The truth of the matter is that the government wants to weaken the UDF party. [Director of Public Prosecutions Ishmael Wadi] wants to arrest me on personal hatred just because I said that I do not recognise him as the DPP.
“He is political or if he is not political then he is childish. How can he just go around arresting innocent people?” wondered Makwangwala.
Makwangwala said as chief executive of a party that is ruling the country he deserves to be treated fairly and with due respect. He claimed that he is innocent and wonders why the government wants to arrest him.
“Right now I am coming from Ntcheu police where I have obtained a report on what happened and what I reported to police. I wonder why the government is interested in my case, which only happened in May, when there are many cases that happened long time ago but are not brought to court.
“My official vehicle, Nissan pick-up, yellow in colour registration number BM 7571, and another Nissan registration number BM 7516 belonging to the UDF district governor for Ntcheu were damaged. I had to run for my life,” he said.
A police report reference number NU/CR/75/004 signed by Ntcheu police station officer-in-charge J.W Chambuluka certifies that Makwangwala reported a case of malicious damage against Ngaunje, William Ngaunje, Thom Macheza, Jordan Thyangathyanga and Elliot Magagula.
But Wadi dismissed Makwangwala’s claims on Monday, saying he has no personal or political interests in Makwangwala or any UDF official but that he would prosecute anyone regardless of his or her political status.
The DPP also wondered why Makwangwala has not yet been arrested when the warrant of arrest already issued.
“Makwangwala’s arrest follows an application from private lawyers, Lawson Company to privately prosecute Makwangwala on malicious damage to two vehicles belonging to Honourable Ngaunje.
“My office feels that the case is serious and has seen that there is need to prosecute Makwangwala because a citizen of the republic was deprived of her property through violence and it would be in the interest of justice and my office to work with the private lawyers appointed by Honourable Ngaunje,” Wadi said.
The DPP said Makwangwala must prove his innocence in court, adding that it is unfortunate that Makwangwala thinks that government is witch-hunting to weaken the UDF.
He said: “If Makwangwala thinks he has got a defence he will be given a chance to give his side of the story in court but as of now he will have to be arrested and face the law. As for the police report he obtained from Ntcheu Police Station I don’t think it has got any substance in this matter.
“If he has another case against Honourable Ngaunje and others he should seek legal redress and the same would apply. But for now he must be arrested.”
Wadi also stressed that he will not look at the political party or position in carrying out his duties.
“I want people to get this clear that I will never prosecute persons on political grounds but anyone who has political authority and abuses it to commit a crime will not be spared because the law is above political authority. I wish I could prosecute Makwangwala myself but I will not be part of the team because he would think I am doing it on personal grounds,”
On why Makwangwala was not yet arrested Police publicist Willie Mwaluka said he was not sure where the warrant was.
“The case is ready to go to court. At the moment I am not aware of who is keeping the warrant of arrest but we will follow up on why he has not been arrested yet,” said Mwaluka.
Ngaunje’s lawyer Ralph Kasambara confirmed on Monday that he is handling the case and that he has applied to the office of the DPP to have Makwangwala prosecuted.
Makwangwala is also facing legal action from President Bingu wa Mutharika’s Chief of Staff Ken Zikhale Ng’oma and Wadi for character assassination and defamation respectively.
Meanwhile, Makwangwala said on Monday he would like to meet Wadi and Ng’oma together with other UDF officials to iron out their differences but Wadi said he does not attend political meetings and that the court will make its ruling on the matter.
Ng’oma could not be reached for comment on Monday.
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