The country’s former head of state Peter Mutharika has broken silence on his alleged involvement in albino killings, accuses President Lazarus Chakwera of wanting to tarnish his good name.

Mutharika’s remarks follows the announcement by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) that it will proceed with criminal charges against him and his ex-aide Heatherwick Ntaba.

In 2018, the names of Mutharika and Ntaba were mentioned in court by the then suspects who were answering charges of abduction and murder of an albino person Macdonald Masambuka.

Twelve men, including the victim’s brother Cassim, former Catholic priest Thomas Muhosha and ex-police officer Chikondi Chileka, have since begun serving lengthy jail terms after being convicted of the grisly crime.

At the time of convicting the 12, presiding Judge Dorothy NyaKaunda Kamanga wondered why Mutharika and Ntaba were missing from the trial despite their names being mentioned in connection with the crime.

But in a statement signed by himself, Mutharika distanced himself from the accusations leveled against him.

He then dared Chakwera to release the inquiry report on the abductions and killings of people with albinism which was submitted to him.

According to Mutharika if Chakwera fails to release it, he (Mutharika) will not have a choice but to make the report public.