Lilongwe, Malawi

December 13, 2025

Steven Maseya

Police Charge MCP Secretary General Richard Chimwendo Banda with Attempted Murder

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Secretary General Richard Chimwendo Banda has been arrested and formally charged by Malawi Police with attempted murder, in a development that has sent shockwaves through the country’s political landscape and reignited long-standing controversies surrounding the senior ruling party official.

Police confirmed that Chimwendo Banda was taken into custody following investigations linked to an alleged violent incident whose details are expected to be presented before the courts. Authorities have so far declined to disclose the identity of the complainant or the full circumstances of the alleged offence, citing ongoing investigations.

Chimwendo Banda is expected to appear in court in the coming days. As of publication, he has not yet entered a plea, and police have emphasized that investigations are still underway.

Richard Chimwendo Banda is one of the most powerful figures within the Malawi Congress Party and government. He has served as MCP Secretary General, Minister of Local Government, Member of Parliament for Dowa Central

As MCP Secretary General, Chimwendo Banda plays a central role in party administration, campaign strategy, and grassroots mobilisation. He is widely regarded as a close ally of President Lazarus Chakwera and a key architect of the party’s political machinery since the 2020 court-sanctioned fresh presidential election.

However, his political career has also been dogged by persistent allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and political intolerance, which he has repeatedly denied.

Over the years, Chimwendo Banda has been linked to multiple corruption-related accusations, particularly during his tenure as Minister of Local Government. These include allegations of mismanagement and abuse of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) resources, claims of interference in local government procurement processes and accusations of using public funds for political mobilisation.

Some of these matters have been raised by civil society organizations and opposition figures, while others have been reported to oversight institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). To date, no court conviction has been secured against him in relation to these claims, and Chimwendo Banda has consistently maintained his innocence, arguing that the accusations are politically motivated.

Following the tragic death of Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and eight others in a military aircraft crash in June 2024, sections of the public, particularly on social media and within political circles, have made speculative allegations implicating senior government and ruling party officials in what some describe as possible foul play.

Among the names that have surfaced in unsubstantiated public discourse is that of Richard Chimwendo Banda. It is important to state clearly that: No law enforcement agency has charged Chimwendo Banda in connection with the death of Saulos Chilima. No official inquiry, commission, or court process has named him as a suspect. Allegations linking him to the incident remain unproven and speculative

Government authorities have maintained that investigations into the plane crash are ongoing and have urged the public to refrain from drawing conclusions until official findings are released.

The arrest has sparked mixed reactions across the political divide. Opposition parties have called for full transparency, urging police and the judiciary to handle the matter without political interference.

Civil society groups have described the arrest as a critical test of the Chakwera administration’s commitment to the rule of law, especially given Chimwendo Banda’s senior position within the ruling party.

Meanwhile, MCP officials have urged calm, stating that the party respects the law and the presumption of innocence. Some party members have dismissed the arrest as a political smear campaign, while others have called for Chimwendo Banda to step aside pending the outcome of the case.

Under Malawi law, Richard Chimwendo Banda is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The attempted murder charge carries serious legal consequences if upheld, and the coming court proceedings are expected to draw intense national and international scrutiny. Police say further details will be released once the suspect is formally arraigned in court.

The arrest and charging of MCP Secretary General Richard Chimwendo Banda mark one of the most significant legal and political developments in recent Malawi history.

While the attempted murder charge represents a grave accusation, the case also reopens broader debates about governance, accountability, and unresolved public mistrust following the death of Vice President Saulos Chilima. As the legal process unfolds, the nation watches closely—awaiting facts, justice, and clarity.

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