Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Director of Youth Cadets Lewis Ngalande  was arrested  yesterday in Blantyre in connection with the frantic show of machetes on the eve of last year's July 20 mass demonstrations.

Southern Region Police Publicist Nicholas Gondwa confirmed the arrest, saying the authorities have been investigating the issue since last year.

"We have been investigating the issue and the investigations are continuing. I can confirm that we have arrested Ngalande at his home and he is now in police custody.

"He has been arrested in connection with what happened in Blantyre on July, 19 when some people carried pangas and intimidated people a day before the July 20 demonstrations," Gondwa said.

He said Ngalande had already disclosed names of the masterminds of the show and all those that were involved.

He said the suspect and his accomplices would be charged with four counts of intimidation, being found in possession of offensive weapons and conduct likely to cause beach of peace, which are all criminal offences, while one of obstruction of traffic is a traffic offence.

On July 19 last year, some people suspected to be DPP cadets drove around the heart of Blantyre city in DPP branded vehicles brandishing panga knives to threaten people from protesting against the then Bingu wa Mutharika regime.

Various quarters have argued that the act of wielding pangas was a catalyst to flare up tempers that resulted in the protests turning violent and resulted in the death of 20 people between July 20 and 21.