Police in Lilongwe have arrested over 30 people in relation to fracas that patronised Thursday’s cancelled protests.  

Lilongwe Police Station Spokesperson Hastings Chigalu told YFM online that the arrested people were found engaging into unlawful conduct following calling off of the demonstrations.

He said: “The organisers decided to present the petition to the Lilongwe District Commissioner (DC) without necessarily marching but silently to the DC’s.

So this arrangement didn’t go down well with people who gathered waiting to march to the DC’s, so they started doing all sorts of lawlessness like what they have been doing in the past demonstrations so we came in swiftly and arrested some.”

He added the suspects have been charged with three counts of inciting violence, soliciting money and carrying offensive weapons.

“In total we have 32 in our custody so they will be taken before the court of law anytime soon and they have been charged with inciting violence, soliciting money and possession of offensive weapons,” disclosed Chigalu.

Chigalu has told us that the figure may likely increase as police are still monitoring the situation on ground.

Meanwhile, executive director of the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) Sylvester Namiwa has been found along the road at Nathenje in Lilongwe.

Whilst confirming the development to Yoneco FM, CDEDI spokesperson Edwin Mauluka said processes are currently underway to get hold of Namiwa and that more details will be relayed to the public.

Namiwa was reportedly abducted in Lilongwe’s Area 3 on Wednesday afternoon, just few minutes after convening a news conference on demonstrations slated for Thursday.