Lawyer Claims MCP Secretary General Chimwendo Banda Held Unlawfully Amid Court Delays
Published on January 5, 2026 at 1:45 PM by Edgar Naitha
Legal counsel for detained Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Secretary General Richard Chimwendo Banda has raised concerns that his client is being held unlawfully.
Lawyer George Jivason Kadzipatike has said that the former cabinet minister has not yet been brought before a court to be formally charged, three weeks after his arrest.
Kadzipatike also criticized the court for delaying a ruling on a bail application filed by the defence several weeks ago.
Chimwendo Banda, who is also the lawmaker for Dowa East Constituency, was arrested by police on 12 December 2025 in connection with attempted murder and abduction cases allegedly committed in 2021.
During his last court appearance, Chimwendo Banda fell ill and received treatment, but his lawyer says he continues to be unwell.
