DPP discontinues activists’ case

The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has formally discontinued a case against four human rights activists and a youth arrested in October last year.

But the five have written the Attorney General’s office to seek compensation.

The five are Billy Mayaya, Ben Chiza Mkandawire, lawyer Habiba Osman, Brian Nyasulu and Osman’s cousin, Comfort Chitseko, who were locked up in October 2011 for a demonstration which they held to coincide with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Summit in protest against the late president Bingu wa Mutharika’s poor governance.

Mayaya on Wednesday said he was yet to be informed of the decision, but reserved his comment on what would be the next course of action.

Police legal adviser Dennis Chipao also confirmed the discontinuance of the matter.

Said lawyer Wapona Kita who represented the five: “We know of the development and we have written to the Attorney General to seek compensation on false imprisonment. I cannot say much as the process is not yet finalised.”

The five were arrested on a Friday and kept in detention for five days due to a public holiday and a magistrate who was absent during their bail hearing.