At least 10 people in Malawi, including current and former government ministers in the current government have been arrested over an alleged coup plot.

Police fired tear gas to break up a crowd protesting against the arrests in the main city, Blantyre in what the protesters describe as unfair and repression against the ministers arrested.

Among those arrested are government minister Goodall Gondwe and ex-minister Peter Mutharika who also a brother to late President Bingu wa Mutharika.

They are accused of plotting a coup to try and prevent President Joyce Banda from taking power last year after the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika.

Joyce Banda was then the vice President to President Bingu wa Mutharika and assumed office after the sudden demise of the president.

But there were rumors that when the president died, some government officials wanted to subvert the constitution by preventing Joyce Banda from taking power which led to a committee being set up to look into the matter.

The report, presented to Ms Banda last Wednesday following an official inquiry, alleged that government ministers and other senior officials held a number of secret meetings aimed at preventing Ms Banda – then vice-president – from assuming the presidency in accordance with the constitution.

According to the report, Peter Mutharika, a brother of the dead president and a former foreign minister, and Mr. Gondwe, the current economic planning minister, had suggested to army commander Gen Henry Odillo that the military should take over the country.

“I can confirm that following the release of a report into the death of President Mutharika, the law enforcement agencies in Malawi are of the strong view that certain criminal offences were committed by certain individuals and as a result arrests have been effected,” Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu told reporters.

But Police fired teargas at around 500 people protesting against the arrests outside police headquarters in Blantyre, while another group, estimated to be in the thousands, blocked the main highway to the capital, Lilongwe, with boulders and branches amid smashing of vehicles and causing huge vehicular traffic.

Joyce Banda, a woman assumed the presidency after the unexpected death of President Bingu wa Mutharika in a heart attack last April.

Many political analysts believe President Joyce Banda wants to establish her authority because she might not be respected by her cabinet probably because of her womanhood.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk African News

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