Mutharika Dismisses Claims of Political Arrests After Call With Chakwera
Published on January 21, 2026 at 2:04 PM by Evance Kapito
President Peter Mutharika has rejected allegations that recent arrests by law enforcement agencies are politically motivated, following a telephone conversation with former president Lazarus Chakwera.
In a statement dated 21 January 2026 and signed by Presidential Press Secretary Cathy Maulidi, Mutharika said Chakwera initiated the call on Monday and raised concerns over what he described as political arrests.
According to the statement, Mutharika countered the claims by pointing to Chakwera’s time in office, during which he said there were numerous high-profile arrests that appeared politically motivated and were carried out without sufficient evidence, leading to few successful convictions.
The President further stated that Chakwera’s five-year administration was marked by a pattern of arrests targeting senior Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials and other high-ranking figures.
Mutharika emphasized that under the current administration, law enforcement agencies operate independently, and that arrests are conducted strictly on the basis of clear and credible evidence, without political interference.
He also assured the public that suspects arrested under the current legal framework will not be subjected to prolonged delays in the justice system, stressing government’s commitment to speedy trials.
“The era of political arrests has ended,” the statement concludes.
