High Court Judge Mzonde Mvula has granted bail to Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa, who has been in custody at Maula Prison for about three weeks.
Justice Mvula has ordered Namiwa to pay a cash bond of five million kwacha, surrender his passport and report to the police every Monday as part of his bail conditions.
The ruling comes a day after Mvula had been scheduled to deliver his decision on Namiwa’s bail application, following concerns from rights groups and civil society organisations over the delay.
On Thursday, the Mzuzu Youth Caucus held a press briefing in which it said it had written Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda expressing concern over the delay in determining Namiwa’s bail application.
The caucus chairperson, Gomezgani Nkhoma, argued that keeping Namiwa in custody without a ruling undermined his constitutional rights and could affect public confidence in the judiciary.
The grouping also raised concerns over what it described as delays in other bail cases, citing the case of former Minister who is also Secretary General for the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Richard Chimwendo Banda, as an example of a case where a separate court intervention was sought over continued detention.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), in a statement released on Wednesday evening, described Namiwa’s continued detention as unacceptable, particularly because the State was not opposing his application for bail.
HRDC chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa said the delay raised concerns about the protection of Namiwa’s constitutional rights, including the right to personal liberty, a fair and expeditious hearing, dignity and access to healthcare.
Kaiyatsa also expressed concern over Namiwa’s health while in custody and called on the judiciary to deliver the ruling without further delay.
Namiwa has been on remand over allegations of treason and publishing false information likely to cause public alarm.
The High Court has since set September 8, 2026, for the commencement of hearing of the case.
Namiwa remains required to comply with the bail conditions as the case proceeds.
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