Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Deputy Publicity Secretary Maurice Munthali has reacted to his arrest by the police for obstructing the country’s first lady Gertrude Mutharika’s convoy, saying he never obstructed the convoy.
According to information at hand, Reverend Munthali was travelling to Blantyre to see his sick child admitted at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.
Upon reaching at Chingeni Munthali bumped into the first lady’s convoy and he attempted to overtake it on several times hence his arrest.
Writing on his official facebook page Munthali denied obstructing Madam Mutharika’s convoy.
“After my meetings in Lilongwe on 9th May 2018 I had to quickly drive to Blantyre for a patient at QECH.
“A few kilometers after Chingeni (Zalewa Turn-off) we found a seemingly very dignified motorcade. Behind the convoy was another vehicle which we wanted to overtake thinking it was not part of the convoy. After noticing that we were being prevented from overtaking it, we decided to drive behind this vehicle and all the other vehicles infront of us. This happened for close to 30 minutes,” wrote Munthali.
He added: “Upon arrival at Zalewa road block, the police stopped my car and told me that I had to answer a case and hence I needed to give a statement explaining what was my intention by wanting to overtake the convoy which they said was against the laws (if they exist). It was only then that I knew the convoy was escorting the First Lady.
“However I was not prepared at all to give the statement & indeed I didn’t because I felt there was no need for me to do so. I strongly felt there was no case for me to answer.
“After some time, I was allowed by the very understanding Police officers to proceed with my journey to Blantyre where I am as I write.”
Obstructing the convoy of the President or his vice is a criminal in Malawi and is punishable by law.
