|
Maurice Kachimbwinda, the former political advisor to UDF national chairman Bakili Muluzi, was on Thursday morning arrested on allegations that he beat up former Police Commissioner for Northern region Thom Chikombole in 1999 during a rally which Muluzi addressed in Mzuzu.
Kachimbwinda becomes the eighth ruling party guru to be arrested in the last seven months.
UDF spokesman Salule Masangwi said Kachimbwinda’s wife called the party headquarters on Thursday to report her husband’s arrest.
“I am not so sure about the details of the arrest but he has really been arrested,” said Masangwi.
An officer in the police public relations department Kelvin Maigwa confirmed Kachimbwinda’s arrest, saying the former UDF regional governor for the Centre is reported to have assaulted Chikombole at Katoto Freedom Park in Mzuzu.
“Mr. Kachimbwinda has been charged with the offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm to the former police commissioner,” said Maigwa.
He confirmed Kachimbwinda was arrested in the early hours of Thursday.
“He is currently at Lilongwe Police Station,” said Maigwa.
And asked to explain why it has taken five years to arrest Kachimbwinda, Maigwa said the police does not rush to make arrests “for fear of being sued later for unlawful arrest”.
“We can take up to 75 years to investigate a case because we want to be careful,” said Maigwa.
Other UDF top officials who have since been arrested include UDF deputy director of research Humphrey Mvula, Director for Youth Rodson Jangiya, party organising secretary Salimu Bagus, former Finance Minister of finance Friday Jumbe, former deputy finance minister Phillip Bwanali, Mayor for Blantyre who is also UDF regional governor (South) John Chikakwiya and UDF councillor for Liwonde Assembly Ibrahim Kalisinje.
|
