Police in Zomba on Saturday detained Chancellor College (Chanco) Malawi Congress Party (MCP) wing director of women affairs, Rebecca Chakwera, for an hour in connection with a sweeping exercise they conducted.
Chakwera, together with a team of the wing’s newly launched women’s league, conducted a sweeping exercise at central market.
In an interview, Eastern Region Police spokesperson, Joseph Sauka, said the officers arrested Chakwera because she and the other wing members did not get permission from authorities.
“We consider anyone who conducts any exercise in the city without seeking permission from the city council, and without the approval of police, as a law-breaker. In line with protocol, it was normal to call off the exercise,” Sauka said.
But Chakwera maintained that she was granted permission by Central Market Chairperson, Innocent Chikhaula, on Friday.
She said the market leader did not tell them to seek permission from the council and police.
The exercise was part of the launch of MCP Chanco wing women’s league, which was graced by MCP eastern region women’s league second vice-chairperson, Nodia Manda.
