Malawian Police on Tuesday arrested two opposition officials and two former security officials on allegations that they were planning a coup to overthrow President Bingu Mutharika, said reports.
The arrested officials include United Democratic Front's secretary-general Kennedy Mwakwangwala, executive member John Chikakwiya, former army commander Joseph Chimbayo and former police chief Joseph Aironi.
All the four arrested officials had served under the administration of former President Bakili Muluzi from 1994 to 2004. They were briefly held at the police headquarters in Blantyre before being transferred to the capital, Lilongwe, for interrogation, reported the BBC.
Meanwhile Malawi's Information Minister Patricia Kaliati denied accusations that that the arrests were politically motivated and said that they were arrested as any other citizen would have been, if they broke the country's laws, reported AP.
President Bingu Mutharika accused his predecessor Bakili Muluzi of masterminding the coup plot, but Muluzi, who is presently out of the country, rejected the accusation.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.