Mangochi Anglican church denied security on political reasons: Police refunds money
Police in the Malawi’s southern district of Mangochi refused to provide security services during the the fundraising event organised by the Anglican Church at the main town for fear of being perceived as associates of Democratic Progressive Party, Peter Mutharika the only political leader who attended the function on Saturday, Nyasa Times has learnt.
Police sources told Nyasa Times that Police Officer in Charge (OC) Elija Kachikuwo opted to refund the money which the men of God paid in advance for hiring six police officers after he learnt that the only party president present at the function is Peter Mutharika.
“This disturbed the church’s representatives who wondered at what was happening considering that, that was not a political function and that all the leaders of the political parties were invited. The men of good returned to the function dumbfounded,” said the sources.
Mangochi Police spokesperson Rodrick Maida declined to comment on the matter saying Kachikuwo was in better position to comment.
Kachikuwo confirmed to Nyasa Times of having refunded the money saying this was because there were no enough police officers at the station to provide security needed at the function.
“All our police officers were attending to other assignments away from the station. So because of this we felt that it was fair enough to just refund them the money,” he said saying the accounts department would be in better position to disclose the amount of money refunded.
Kachikuwo said despite this the police which he says are stationed at a distance of about 100 meters from the venue of the function was on alert and ready to provide emergency assistance which is free of charge should there be any form of violence.
“I myself usually knock off lunch hour on weekends but on this particular day I knocked off around 2pm after I was convinced that everything is fine at the function. I was ready to give any assistance if something happened.”
At the function Mutharika donated K1 million towards the construction of the St Thomas Church.
Businessman Leston Mulli ditched K500, 000, leader of the United Democratic Front Atupele Muluzi donated K100, 000 through his party’s regional governor for the east Abubakar M’baya.
Ruling People’s Party was not represented during the religious fundraising event and donated nothing.
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