Msonda and truck driver arrested, charged over brawl: Granted bail

Malawi Police on Thursday arrested former ruling People’s Party (PP) publicist, Ken Msonda and S&I Carrier truck driver for being involved in a wild brawl on Monday night that left both of them severely injured.

Blantyre Police Public Relations Officer, Elizabeth Divala confirmed of the arrest.

Msonda and S&I Carrier truck driver, George Kanyenda got into a brawl at Liwanda trade centre in Machinjiri after a quarrel over a parked truck that blocked a road to Msonda’s residence.

And on Thursday, South Lunzu police detained the two for hours before releasing them on bail.

Msonda according to Divala, has been charged with two counts of Unlawful Wounding and Disorderly Conduct at Police Station.

”Mr. Kanyenda has been charged with one count of Disorderly Conduct at Police Station,” explained Divala.

Msonda is answering to the charge of Unlawful Wounding due to the gravity of injuries Kanyenda sustained.

Msonda and Kanyenda are expected to appear before South Lunzu Magistrates court on July 11, 2015.

The two got into a fight after a heated argument over a 40-tonne truck had parked on a road to Msonda’s house which infuriated the politician.

Tempers are said to have flared when Msonda got into the truck to remove it, and Kanyenda instead started insulting the politician before splashing beer on him.

Kanyenda is said to have loudly called Msonda ”Wa PP uyu, mwana wa Joyce Banda (He is a PP official and Joyce Banda’s aide)”.

Msonda, according to police, retaliated to Kanyenda’s insults and attack by hacking him on the hand and forehead with a panga knife that he got from his car.

”Mr. Msonda was the one who rushed to South Lunzu police in Area 5 (Machinjiri) and the driver followed him there. They started fighting in the presence of officers. The driver hit Mr. Sonda with a glass bottle,” explained Blantyre  police publicist, Elizabeth Divala.

Divala said it was difficult to arrest the two at the time of the incident as they needed immediate medical attention.

”Both of them sustained serious injuries and were given a letter to seek medical help. They were advised to report to the same police station on Tuesday, but the driver gave an excuse that he wasnt
feeling well,” added Divala.

In an interview, Msonda popularly known as foot-soldier suspected the incident to be a political attack.

”I suspect he was sent by some politicians because he recognised me as PP official. My life was in danger; he was so aggressive and my neighbours failed to cool him off. He splashed beer on me, broke thebottle and cut me on the hand, instead I had to defend myself,” explained Msonda.

He added: ”I rushed to police and he followed me there and attacked me again in presence of three officers. I thank the police for serving my life”.

Msonda said was waiting for police to conclude their investigations on the matter.

But in a separate interview, Kanyenda’s boss, Ben Chiwaula blamed the politician for starting the fight which he said had left his employee critically injured.

”The driver was coming from Mozambique and had stopped at Liwanda in Machinjiri to talk to a friend, a fellow driver from our company,” said Chiwaula.

Chiwaula said Kanyenda had left the truck, ferrying fertilizer, running.

”While he was talking to his colleague, he heard a sound like somebody was moving his truck. He rushed back thinking it was carjackers, but people told him it was Mr. Msonda an official of Peoples Party,”  added Chiwaula.

Chiwaula claims Kanyenda did not know Msonda until the incident when people called out his name.

He defended his junior’s failure to report to police on Tuesday as was adviced by the law-enforcers, saying he had fainted  and we rushed him to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital where he was discharged on the same day.

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