Former Malawian president Bakili Muluzi, who had been under house arrest over an alleged coup plot, was freed on bail on Friday after a judge said there was no reason to fear he would try to flee justice. Muluzi was ordered to post bail of $2 000 and report to police once a month as well as inform them of any plans to travel outside Blantyre.
Malawi's former president Bakili Muluzi on Tuesday laughed off accusations that he was trying to topple his successor as his lawyers launched a high court bid to end his house arrest. Muluzi has denied any knowledge of documents which purportedly linked him to a coup against President Bingu wa Mutharika.
Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika on Saturday said that Africa was able to feed itself, suggesting other African nations should learn farming lessons from his country. "We believe in Malawi that Africa can feed itself," Mutharika told reporters before he departed for Japan to attend a meeting of African leaders.
A court in Malawi handed down a six-year prison sentence on Tuesday to a former minister over corruption charges dating back 14 years, officials said. Former education minister Sam Mpasu stood accused of having received kickbacks for awarding a British company a deal to provide Malawi with millions of notebooks and pencils.
Police in Malawi have arrested two sisters who allegedly torched to death two children -- aged three and seven -- to exorcise them of witchcraft, a police spokesperson said on Monday. Police spokesperson Chifundo Chibweza said two other children -- aged nine years and eight months -- were rescued by villagers.
Malawi lawmakers on Tuesday began examining draft legislation aimed at ridding the HIV/Aids-plagued country of quacks claiming to cure the pandemic through such remedies as sex with virgins, health authorities said. "When it passes into law, all traditional healers claiming to cure Aids will be dealt with," Mary Shaba, head of HIV/Aids issues for Malawi's Health Ministry, said.
Malawi's president flew over the flood-stricken Shire Valley on Sunday where nearly 50 000 people have lost their homes and crops to raging waters that have wreaked havoc in many parts of Southern Africa. Nationally, more than 70 000 have been displaced in Malawi.
