Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Councillor for Blantyre City Soche East Ward Leonard Chimbanga has been acquitted in a case where he was accused of being found in possession of unlicensed firearm and live ammunition.
Chimbanga was arrested in December last year in Chileka.
The DPP councilor has confimed of his acquittal in a statement posted on his official facebook page seen by this publication.
“Today I’m relieved to let you all know that I’ve been acquitted of the charges the state leveled against me. I want to thank the judiciary for their fair judgment. The judiciary in Malawi is one of the best in Africa, and I’m grateful they’ve cleared my name. To those who tried to tarnish my otherwise good image, I forgive you because you were only being used by failed politicians.
“I also want to thank my lawyers, who worked tirelessly, and everyone who believed in me, even without knowing the full story. Thank you for your prayers. I will not be silenced. I will not even sue anyone,” wrote Chimbanga.
He has since described his arrest as move by the Tonse Alliance government of President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to silence him.
“The last 10 months have been incredibly painful for me and my family. I was arrested on trumped-up charges, accused of possessing a firearm without a permit. The entire country heard about this, as stories spread across mainstream and social media. I was detained at Chileka Police Station, where I was questioned by the Station Officer about my Mlakho Wa Alhomwe involvement. I was humiliated, my image was tarnished, and I was treated as a criminal for something I didn’t do, yet my counsel advised me not to respond.
“I was taken to court, denied bail, and remanded at Chichiri Prison for two weeks. During that time, I shared a cell with three convicted rapists and a murderer. Those days and nights were terrifying; I couldn’t sleep, and I prayed for God’s protection. A few people visited me, offering some comfort during those dark times,” he said.
He added: “My only “crime” is supporting APM and being a critic of the government. Police officers even told me, “If you stop criticizing the government, this case will go away.” It’s hard to understand why, in a democracy, we should be silenced.
“They’ve sent people to the council to inquire about where I live and where I drink. A senior police officer from Chilomoni even asked one of my fellow councillors about my whereabouts, claiming that I need to be silenced. I expect professionalism from the police, but despite reporting multiple issues and threats to Soche Police, I’ve received no assistance.”
