A cloud of uncertainty hangs over the way forward towards UTM’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which was scheduled for Friday 25th October in Lilongwe following the arrest of its Secretary General Patricia Kaliati on Thursday.
UTM’s Vice President Micheal Usi has postponed the NEC meeting following Kaliati’s arrest while the party’s Publicist Felix Njawala is on record to have indicated that the political grouping is still discussing on the way forward for the gathering.
According to the Malawi Police Service National Spokesperson Peter Kalaya, she is suspected of conspiring with others to commit a serious offence (felony).
“MPS arrested Hon. Kaliati in Lilongwe on Thursday, October 24, 2024. The Service has evidence which implicates Hon. Kaliati and two others for the said conspiracy.
“Details of the serious offence that she is accused of and individuals she conspired together with will be given out to the public at an appropriate time.” reads the Police statement
In a related development, some party supporters and politicians such as UTM presidential aspirants Dalitso Kabambe, Mathews Mtumbuka and others went to visit Lingadzi Police Station where Kaliati is being held.
They sang songs of support for the UTM’s Secretary General.
UTM Patron and presidential aspirant Newton Kambala alleged the arrest could be politically connected.
“Our thinking is this is politically motivated because I’ve been very close to Dr. Kaliati; the issues which they are talking about I doubt she can be, and I doubt she can carelessly speak about wanting to assassinate somebody because this is what we have heard.
“But the charge that we’re hearing is felony which in my opinion it’s ambiguous without giving us proper details, so we’ve got enough reasons to believe this is politically motivated”
People’s Development Party (PDP) President Kondwani Nankhumwa also paid Kaliati a visit.
“When I heard that she had been arrested, I thought it wise to come and cheer her up and to encourage her for whatever she’s going through.”
Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) President Enoch Chihana, DPP’s Director of Women Mary Navicha, DPP’s Vice President for the Centre Alfred Gangata and its National Organising Secretary Sameer Suleman are some of the politicians that also visited Kaliati.
