By Suleman Chitera
Simplex Chithyola Banda accuses Police of Torture and Human Rights Groups of Silence, as Speaker Blocks Debate in Parliament
Lilongwe, Malawi – The Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Simplex Chithyola Banda, has strongly criticized what he calls unlawful and politically motivated arrests of individuals accused of involvement in violent demonstrations that took place during the previous MCP administration.
Speaking in Parliament while responding to President Lazarus Chakwera’s address during the official opening of the House last week, Chithyola Banda claimed the arrests amount to a violation of human rights. He alleged that some of the detained individuals are being subjected to police torture while in custody.
“These arrests are a clear violation of the suspects’ rights. We are informed that some of them are being tortured by police authorities,” he said.
Chithyola Banda also expressed disappointment with human rights organizations in Malawi for staying silent on the matter, stating that their silence raises serious questions about impartiality and commitment to justice.
Opposition Promises Responsible Oversight
Chithyola Banda, who previously served as Minister of Finance, emphasized that the Opposition will continue to provide checks and balances to the government and will not oppose for the sake of opposing.
He further claimed that the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), despite losing recent elections, could return to power in 2030, arguing that the party has “learned from its mistakes.”
Speaker Stops Debate on the Matter
However, Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman blocked discussions on the arrests, saying the matter is already before the courts and therefore cannot be debated in the House according to parliamentary rules
