By Suleman Chitera
Senior Malawi Congress Party (MCP) figure Moses Kunkuyu has declared that he will not be intimidated into silence amid the arrest and detention of several opposition officials, a development that has intensified political tensions across the country.
Kunkuyu, a former Minister of Information in the administration of President Lazarus Chakwera, said the ongoing arrests of MCP leaders will not deter him from demanding accountability from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) over its governance record and campaign promises.
Speaking in a statement shared on social media, Kunkuyu described the arrests as part of a broader pattern of intimidation against opposition voices, insisting that democratic accountability and freedom of expression must be upheld regardless of which party is in power.
“No amount of intimidation will silence us,” Kunkuyu said. “Malawi’s democracy depends on the ability of citizens and political leaders alike to speak freely and to hold those in authority to account.”
He added that the use of law-enforcement institutions in politically sensitive circumstances risks eroding public trust and undermining democratic norms, calling on authorities to ensure that the rule of law is applied impartially and transparently.
Meanwhile, police have confirmed that MCP officials Vitumbiko Mumba, Jessie Kabwila and Richard Chimwendo Banda are currently in custody and are expected to be taken to court to answer charges related to treason and attempted murder. Authorities have maintained that the arrests are based on evidence and should not be viewed as politically motivated.
The MCP, however, has strongly condemned the arrests, describing them as politically driven and aimed at weakening the opposition ahead of future electoral contests. Party officials and supporters have demanded the immediate release of those detained or, at minimum, a speedy and fair judicial process.
As the situation continues to unfold, civil society groups and political analysts are urging restraint from all sides, warning that escalating political confrontations could further polarize the nation and distract from pressing economic and social challenges facing Malawians.
