Six men appeared in Lilongwe Magistrate's Court on Monday facing charges of assaulting activist Sylvester Namiwa and damaging property at a June demonstration. Magistrate Benjamin Chulu denied bail and scheduled the next hearing for Tuesday afternoon after defense attorneys said they had not received charging documents. State Prosecutor Prescort Mwayiulipo told the court that police arrested most suspects last week and continue searching for additional people linked to the attack.
Namiwa directs the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives and was beaten by a mob suspected of being hired to disrupt the protest march. The civil society leader sustained serious injuries requiring hospital treatment after the assault. Human rights groups and international observers condemned the violence and called for justice. Alfred Dala Kaduya, Lameck Manduwa Mkasa, Mavuto Njuchi, Lester Kanjunga, Howard Kadango and Joseph Gideon face prosecution for the incident.
Namiwa directs the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives and was beaten by a mob suspected of being hired to disrupt the protest march. The civil society leader sustained serious injuries requiring hospital treatment after the assault. Human rights groups and international observers condemned the violence and called for justice. Alfred Dala Kaduya, Lameck Manduwa Mkasa, Mavuto Njuchi, Lester Kanjunga, Howard Kadango and Joseph Gideon face prosecution for the incident.
