Spine case sends party bigwig to doc, not dock

A bunch of top Malawi Congress Party brass showed up for a court date in Lilongwe. Richard Chimwendo Banda, the party secretary general, was there with spokesperson Jessie Kabwila and former running mate Vitumbiko Mumba. Supporters and cops crowded the Chief Resident Magistrate's Court. Only Chimwendo Banda's case got heard, though. He and another guy, Alfred Dala Kadula, are charged with attempted murder from an old attack on some dude named Frank Chawanda.

The magistrate said Chimwendo Banda needed immediate medical help for a back problem before getting sent to Maula Prison. His lawyers said his health went downhill fast after they grabbed him last Friday. They asked for a heart clinic and wanted the case bumped to a higher court. Prosecutors did not fight the doctor visit but wanted their own specialist to check him out first. They insisted he stay locked up during treatment.

This whole sick call is causing some side-eye. People are pointing out that Chimwendo Banda was all over the place during the last election cycle, giving speeches and traveling nonstop. He even used to mock President Peter Mutharika's stamina back in the day. After his party lost, he still won a parliamentary seat and showed up to work. Folks are now questioning why this major medical issue is suddenly a thing right after he got arrested.