According to The Nation newspaper, Mr. Chakuamba was rushed to hospital soon after the arrest as his blood pressure rose bringing concern over his health. He was discharged on the same Monday and returned to Police custody. He is expected to answer charges of propagating violence in court today.

In reaction to this launch, leader of one of the opposing parties, New Republican Party, Mr. Gwanda Chakuamba at a political rally was quoted as urging members of the public to keep the Alhomwe in check my “beating up” any member of the tribe who acted “pompously” due to the rise in status of the tribe. Fears erupted following the rally, especially among the Alhomwe as concerns as to the extent the public was to take in keeping them in check.

As Malawi’s next presidential election in May draws near, it is important for political leaders in Malawi both in the ruling and opposing parties to remember that inciting tribes to rise against each other will neither make for a peaceful election nor a stable Malawi.

Speaking at a rally, a member of the opposition leadership, Mr. Gwanda Chakwamba of the New Republican Party (NRP) called on members of the public to keep the Alhomwe in check by dealing with them should they “behave pompously”, a statement that caused concerns as to what measures the public will use to keep this tribe in check. Fears of violence against the Alhomwe erupted after the rally but so far there has been no reported incident directly linked to the statements at the rally.

As the political scene in Malawi readies itself for the Elections next May it is important for our leaders both from the ruling party and the opposition to realize that inciting tribes to rise up against each other will neither make for a peaceful election nor a stable Malawi in the coming years.

Currently, the inflation rate is at 11.9 per cent down from 12.3 percent in July. Charles Mataya, president of the Economics Associaton of Malawi said the strengthening of the Kwacha would make it to become overvalued an occurrence that would increase demand for foreign currency on the local market. Higher inflation rates affect prices of commodities negatively as prices go up when inflation goes up.

The deputy head teacher from Nanjiriri Primary school in Blantyre was ambushed by gunmen who demanded salaries meant for 36 teachers at the school. According to police reports, the deputy head teacher Mikeas Nsema on Tuesday collected the teachers’ salaries totaling around $4,533from District Education Manager’s (DEM) offices.

Nsema was attacked at the DEM offices at around 9:20 am while in the company of three teachers from other schools in the District. The head teacher at the school, Violet Wandawanda expressed shock and disappointment at the loss of the salaries as the armed robbers are still at large. Wandawanda holds the government responsible for the security of government-employed teachers’ salaries and the delay to pay teachers through banks makes it easy for incidents such these to occur.

Nsema was attacked at the DEM offices at around 9:20 am while in the company of three teachers from other schools in the District. The head teacher at the school, Violet Wandawanda expressed shock and disappointment at the loss of the salaries as the armed robbers are still at large. Wandawanda holds the government responsible for the security of government-employed teachers’ salaries and the delay to pay teachers through banks makes it easy for incidents such these to occur.