Atleast 11 Arrested Over Coup Plot

The Police have arrested former Malawi Defence Force (MDF) commander Joseph Chimbayo, former Inspector General of Police Joseph Aironi and several other high profile members of the Police, Army and UDF over allegations of plotting to overthrow government.

The Police also picked up UDF Secretary General, Kennedy Makwangwala, and former UDF Regional Governor for the South and who was also Mayor of Blantyre City, John Chikakwiya.

MDF Spokesperson Clement Namangale has confirmed in interview the arrest of Brigadiers Marcel Chirwa and Cosgrove Mituka. The two were being interrogated on the information the State had. He refused to shed more light on the nature of the interrogations.

Investigations also show that all suspects' houses have also been searched by the police.

Minister of Home Affairs, Ernest Malenga toold state broadcaster, MBC that government suspected the arrested people of plotting to stage a coup. He said investigations were ongoing to find out on how the plot was going to be executed.

"Surveillance and other information gathered over a period of time has revealed that the plotters were planning to use a handful of serving and retired officers from the armed forces and police service to achieve their sinister and unlawful plot," Malenga said.

He said the coup plotters were planning to take over government this month.

The arrest of the 11 has come barely two days after Mutharika said former president Muluzi was plotting to overthrow his government on May 16.