Ex-President Chakwera Stoned at HHI

Four vehicles in former president Lazarus Chakwera’s convoy have been stoned and damaged at HHI in Blantyre during the CCAP Blantyre Synod’s 150th anniversary celebrations on Sunday.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Regional Publicity Secretary for the South, Enphraim Banda, said a vehicle belonging to the party’s campaign director, Moses Kunkuyu, was among those damaged.

Chakwera is attending the anniversary thanksgiving service at the Blantyre Mission premises in HHI after being invited by the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Blantyre Synod.

The incident occurred amid tension at the entrance to the church premises, where suspected ruling party supporters were reportedly seen manhandling people believed to be opposition functionaries ahead of Chakwera’s arrival.

Police officers were also seen holding meetings at HHI as tension mounted at the venue.

Chakwera and former first lady Monica Chakwera arrived at the celebrations before guest of honour, Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda, who later arrived in the company of business mogul Thom Mpinganjira.

Chaponda was welcomed by senior Blantyre Synod officials, led by general secretary Anderson Juma and moderator Right Reverend Missie Kananji Spiki.

Other notable figures attending the service include Minister of Agriculture Rosa Mbilizi, Minister of Health and Sanitation Madalitso Baloyi, Minister of Gender, Disability, Children and Social Welfare Mary Navicha, United Democratic Front (UDF) president Atupele Muluzi and Blantyre City Mayor Isaac Jomo Osman.

Police had not issued an official statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the stoning or confirming whether any arrests had been made by the time of publication.