adminGondwe and other 10 top officials were arrested on Monday in connection with a plot to hijack the ascendancy to power of President Banda following the death of Bingu wa Mutharika in April last year.
After his arrest, Gondwe collapsed and has been at a private clinic in Lilongwe being treated for hypertension. State House press secretary Steve Nhlane has confirmed that Gondwe may not be able to discharge his duties as minister of economic planning and development and the president may decide to replace him.
However, there were unconfirmed reports that Gondwe had tendered his resignation following the arrest.
Malawi police on Monday arrested 11 people, including the ex-president’s brother, and fired State Chief Secretary Bright Msaka, for the alleged coup plot.
The plot is alleged to have taken place amid the chaos of Mutharika’s death in April last year.
Last week an inquest ruled that Mutharika died of a heart attack on the way to hospital after collapsing at the State House. But his death was not confirmed for two days and his body was flown to South Africa as would-be successors sought to buy time.
Six ministers held a late-night news conference a day after Mutharika’s death to insist he was still alive.
Under the constitution, Banda was next in line to become president, but Mutharika had been grooming his brother Peter to succeed him.
Banda was eventually sworn in on April 7, after backroom dealings. – Nyasa Times.
Online Reporter