NGOCC DEEPLY CONCERNED BY THE CRITICAL HEALTH CONDITION OF HON. FAITH MUNTHALI

The NGO Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has issued a strongly worded statement expressing deep concern over the deteriorating health condition of Mafinga South Constituency Member of Parliament, Hon. Faith Munthali, who is currently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a health facility in Isoka. The civil society coalition emphasized that her sudden health crisis while under state custody is a matter of grave national concern, prompting renewed debates regarding the treatment of political figures and detainees within the country's justice system. According to reports from her political party and family, Hon. Munthali fell seriously ill following her apprehension and subsequent detention by law enforcement authorities over allegations involving weapons and conspiracy charges. Her condition reportedly worsened inside police custody, leading to emergency hospitalizations where she has required oxygen therapy and intensive medical management. Stakeholders have noted that her delicate medical background, which includes pre-existing health vulnerabilities, makes her continued detention particularly perilous. In its official address, the NGOCC underscored that every citizen, regardless of political affiliation or legal status, is constitutionally and universally entitled to humane treatment and the highest attainable standard of healthcare. The women's movement reiterated that lawmakers and civic leaders must be accorded dignity and respect, reminding the public that an accused person remains legally innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law. Given the severity of her current medical predicament, civil rights advocates and opposition groups are urgently pressing the government to prioritize the preservation of human life above all else. Calls have intensified for authorities to immediately review her custody status, grant police bonds or necessary administrative reliefs, and facilitate unhindered access to specialized medical attention, potentially inc