Police in Mzuzu on Tuesday arrested a self-styled preacher, known among his followers as Munthu wa Mulungu Khumbo Madise, who made Kaning’ina Mountain his home since 2018.
Madise constructed makeshift huts with grass and plastic sheets at a place popularly known as ‘ku Chihema’ among his followers.
Following Madise’s arrest, his followers thronged Mzuzu Police Station to offer moral support.
In an interview, Mzuzu Police spokesperson Paul Tembo said Madise was arrested following a complaint from the Forestry Department.
“ Madise is answering charges contrary to Section 64(C) of the Forestry Act and will appear before court today,” said Tembo.
It is an offence under Section 64(C) to reside, erect a building, hut, livestock enclosures or any structure in a forest reserve or protected area.
However, Madise said God has not told him to leave the mountain yet.
“Although physically I am in custody but spiritually I am still on Kaning’ina Mountain,” he said.
In an earlier interview with The Nation, Madise said God instructed him to leave his home in Nkhorongo Location and start living at the peak of the mountain.
Madise also said God instructed him to eat porridge only (soya or rice) once a day.
In 2020, officials from the department of forestry burned down his makeshift home and place of worship in an attempt to force him to leave the mountain.
His followers follow him to the mountain for prayers and assistance from various ailments.
Madise, who is not married, was once in video production business in South Africa before he came back to Malawi.
