Attempted Murder Suspect Chimwendo Banda Runs to Supreme Court Over 90-Day Remand

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda, who is facing an attempted murder charge, has rushed to the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal seeking to stay a 90-day remand warrant issued by the Chief Resident Magistrate Court in Lilongwe.

The warrant was issued on December 15, 2025, ordering that Chimwendo Banda be remanded at Maula Prison pending investigations into the alleged offence.

Judiciary spokesperson Ruth Mputeni confirmed yesterday that the former cabinet minister, who is currently on remand at Maula Prison, has applied for an order to stay or suspend the remand warrant.

Following the application, Mputeni said Justice of Appeal Dorothy Nyakaunda Kamanga has scheduled an inter-partes hearing for January 9, 2026.

“The applicant is seeking a stay of the remand warrant,” Mputeni said.

The Supreme Court appeal comes as Chimwendo Banda also awaits a ruling from the High Court in Lilongwe on a separate bail application before Justice Mzonde Mvula.

In a separate interview, Chimwendo Banda’s lawyer, George Jivason Kadzipatike, said the bail application in the High Court and the application for a stay of the remand warrant in the Supreme Court of Appeal are independent processes.

“What we want is the quickest release of Honourable Chimwendo from unlawful detention. He is innocent, and the State has not provided any evidence linking him to the attempted murder allegations,” Kadzipatike said.

“A minute in unlawful detention is too long. Should the High Court deliver its ruling, there will be no need to proceed with the application in the Supreme Court of Appeal.”

Justice Mzonde Mvula heard the bail application on December 24, 2025, and is yet to rule after hearing submissions from both the defence and the State.

Chimwendo Banda remains on remand at Maula Prison as the courts consider the applications in the high-profile attempted murder case.