Blantyre City South East legislator Sameer Suleman (Democratic Progressive Party – DPP) has been granted bail by the Blantyre Magistrate’s Court after his arrest yesterday in connection with defamation allegations.

Suleman is accused of making and posting a defamatory statement on social media between December 2024 and January 2025. The statement is said to have targeted prominent politicians, including Honourable Richard Chimwendo Banda, Baba Malondera, and Kenneth Zikhale N’goma.

“Sameer Suleman between the month of December 2024 and January 2025 in the Republic of Malawi made and posted a statement on the social media platform that is defamatory to Honourable Richard Chimwendo Banda, Baba Malondera and Kenneth Zikhale N’goma,” the particulars of the offence read in part.

Senior Resident Magistrate Andrew Mmanga, who presided over the case, granted bail on several conditions. Suleman was ordered to pay a K500,000 cash bond and provide one traceable surety with a non-cash bond of K2 million. Additionally, Suleman must report to the South West Police Region headquarters once a month as part of his bail conditions.

Furthermore, the court instructed Suleman to surrender his traveling document, which will remain in the custody of the court.

This legal matter comes amid ongoing tensions in Malawi’s political landscape.