Tembo criminal, says Bingu

As his onslaught against opposition leaders continues, President Bingu Mutharika has told the nation that the country's leader of opposition in the National Assembly, John Tembo doesn't deserve freedom.

Mutharika, alleged that Tembo, who is Leader of the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), committed so many "heinous crimes", during the 30 year rule of his party under the tutelage of the late first leader of Malawi, Dr Kamuzu Banda, therefore he doesn't deserve to be a free man.

"This man committed so many crimes against innocent Malawians during his time. He detained people on trumped up charges. So many people disappeared during his time," Mutharika said.

"Those who are old enough know what am talking about. This man does not deserve to be free at all cost. He is a criminal," said while addressing a rally at Chintheche in Nkhatabay on Sunday soon after attending a Church service at Bandawe CCAP, where he presided over the dedication ceremony of a new Church building.

Mutharika, who a month ago, alleged that members of the now defunct, Malawi Young Pioneer (MYP), a para-military wing of the MCP, under the leadership of the People's Progressive Party (PPM) President Aleke Banda and Tembo himself beat up and left his own father, one Rysan Thom for dead. He later died in hospital.

"Therefore today, this man, because he is left scot free, has the guts to stand in parliament and insult me. When did Tembo know democracy? When did he know about the rule of law? When did he know about human rights?

"If it were during the United Democratic Front (UDF) rule, he could not have had that courage to talk like this. He could have been locked up," said Mutharika.

MCP's Parliamentary spokesperson, Ismail Chafukira has described Mutharika's allegations as very unfortunate, particularly at this time, when the nation is praying for a solution to the current impasse in the country.

"When Tembo speaks in parliament, he does not speak on issues bordering on the personal life of the State President. We don't know now the direction that we are taking. When the whole President of the country leads the way in fighting his own people, it is very unfortunate," said Chafukira.

The Supreme Court of Malawi in 1996 acquitted Tembo, Kamuzu and the former Official Hostess, Cecilia Kadzamira in what became to be known as the "Mwanza Case".

They were being accused of masterminding the death of the "Mwanza Four", who included, three cabinet ministers, Aaron Gadama, Twaibu Sangala, Dick Matenje and a parliamentarian for Chikwawa North, David Chiwanga, who died in a "road accident" along Thambani Road in Mwanza in 1986.

Meanwhile, other sections of the society are implicating Speaker of Parliament Louis Chimango to have played "a big role" in the Mwanza Murders.

But Chimango testified at the Commission of Inquiry on Mwanza Road Accident chaired by Justice Michael Mtegha that on the day of the "accident" he drove with the assassinated ministers in the same vehicle.

"The two deceased persons for some reasons they had said the had no transport. I had a government vehicle, a small one. I do not have the details and I do not even remember the driver. So, they asked for a lift to Zomba and I gave them a lift to Zomba.

"After that session of Parliament we returned, and all I remember is that at Likangala in Zomba, there was a road block, I was allowed to proceed after the road block but the two deceased ministers were restrained there. They did not proceed. That is the little that I can recollect," testified Chimango according to a verbatim report on the thirty-seventh day proceedings, Tuesday, 20^th September 1994.

Chimango was witness No. 133 and was answering a question from Commissioner Likaku.