Sylvester Namiwa bail hearing shifted to Thursday

By Pemphero Malimba: Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa will have spent 14 days in custody by the time the High Court in Lilongwe hears his bail application tomorrow. The court has shifted the hearing from today to Thursday, according to a court document dated August 5, 2026. "Take notice that the hearing of the bail application scheduled for the 12th day of August 2026 has been adjourned to the 13th day of August 2026 at 10 o'clock in the forenoon," the document reads. Confirming the change, Namiwa's lawyer Gift Mwenye said the court informed the defence that the adjournment was due to other court activities. "We have to respect the excuse of the judges. They have not adjourned for many days, so we are grateful for that," Mwenye said. Police arrested Namiwa on July 30 and charged him with treason and publication of false news likely to cause public alarm. During proceedings at the Chief Resident Magistrate's Court in Lilongwe, Chief Resident Magistrate Austin Banda said the State accused Namiwa of committing the offences in July during an interview on Luntha TV. "During a TV interview on Luntha TV, he [Namiwa] said that in the next two months Vice-President Jane Ansah will become President of Malawi, although within two months there was no arrangement for such ascendance," Banda said. On the charge of publishing false news, Banda said Namiwa allegedly made the claims during the same interview. "Namiwa alleged that some five powerful people have a licence to kill people as they take dangerous people from Dzaleka to use them to kill other people," he said. Banda subsequently committed Namiwa to the High Court. The defence then applied for bail at the High Court after it was established that the magistrate's court could not hear the application. State prosecutor Prescot Mwayiulipo told the magistrate that the bail application had to be made before the High Court. Some opposition political parties have called for Namiwa's release on bail, arguing that the charges are unjustifiable.

WIRE — By Pemphero Malimba: Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa will have spent 14 days in custody by the time the High Court in Lilongwe hears his bail application tomorrow. The court has shifted the hearing from today to Thursday, according to a court document dated August 5, 2026. "Take notice that the hearing of the bail application scheduled for the 12th day of August 2026 has been adjourned to the 13th day of August 2026 at 10 o'clock in the forenoon," the document reads. Confirming the change, Namiwa's lawyer Gift Mwenye said the court informed the defence that the adjournment was due to other court activities. "We have to respect the excuse of the judges. They have not adjourned for many days, so we are grateful for that," Mwenye said. Police arrested Namiwa on July 30 and charged him with treason and publication of false news likely to cause public alarm. During proceedings at the Chief Resident Magistrate's Court in Lilongwe, Chief Resident Magistrate Austin Banda said the State accused Namiwa of committing the offences in July during an interview on Luntha TV. "During a TV interview on Luntha TV, he [Namiwa] said that in the next two months Vice-President Jane Ansah will become President of Malawi, although within two months there was no arrangement for such ascendance," Banda said. On the charge of publishing false news, Banda said Namiwa allegedly made the claims during the same interview. "Namiwa alleged that some five powerful people have a licence to kill people as they take dangerous people from Dzaleka to use them to kill other people," he said. Banda subsequently committed Namiwa to the High Court. The defence then applied for bail at the High Court after it was established that the magistrate's court could not hear the application. State prosecutor Prescot Mwayiulipo told the magistrate that the bail application had to be made before the High Court. Some opposition political parties have called for Namiwa's release on bail, arguing that the charges are unjustifiable.

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