Ben Phiri demands apology from Sembereka over petrol-bomb remark

September 3, 2019 Owen Khamula - Nyasa Times 25 Comments

Local government and Rural Development minister Ben Phiri has instructed his lawyers to demand an apology from a Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC)  official over remarks he made linking the minister to a petrol-bomb blast at  HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo’s  house in Area 49 in Lilongwe, damaging his vehicle and part of the house.

Ben Phiri: Instructed lawyer Tembenu to demand apology from HRDC official

According to a letter from Tembenu, Masumbu and Company, Reverend Macdonald Sembereka has been given up to 14-days to make the apology or face legal action.

“We are for and on behalf of Dr. Ben Phiri (“our client”) who has instructed us to address you and demand an apology from you as we hereby do,” says the letter in part.

The letter says Sembereka allegedly made the remarks at a news conference in Lilongwe on August 15 after Mtambo’s residence in the Capital City was petrol bombed on August 14. “Kindly take note that your utterances were defamatory as well as injurious, detrimental, demeaning and damaging as they are bound to discredit and ruin Dr. Ben Phiri’s character and thus negatively affect him in his work, business, and personal life.

“The statements are injurious considering the fact that Dr. Ben Phiri holds a public life as a cabinet minister and is a well known person,” says the letter in part.

The letter seen by Nyasa Times is dated August 22,2019.

There was no immediate comment from Sembereka or the HRDC.

The petrol bomb attack at Mtambo’s residence also come after suspected regime  thugs in July petrol-bombed a UTM Party vehicle in Mangochi, a house belonging to Malawi Congress Party (MCP) director of Youth Richard Chimwendo Banda in Dowa, MCP offices at Chichiri in Blantyre, and MCP vice-president Sidik Mia’s offices in Blantyre.

National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera said  they are yet to arrest anyone although they continue investigating the cases.

A security expert Euginio Njoloma, who lectures at Mzuzu University in the Department of Governance, Peace and Security, said the attacks are indicative of “compromised security”  in the country.

He also said it defies the concept of Rule of Law, which makes the country degenerate into a failed statehood category.

“ All this is because government appears not interested to address such targeted attacks and chooses to leave the perpetrators scot-free.”

And governance commentators Makhumbo Munthali and Humphrey Mvula said the continued attacks signal weak democratic institutions.

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25 replies on “Ben Phiri demands apology from Sembereka over petrol-bomb remark”

  1. DR Ben phiri my foot yaah Kodi iwe Ben uri kudana nazo zoti iwe uri kutuma onyamata oako kuti anzikachita chipongwe wanthu?

  5. SHANIL DZIMBIRI MAI INU NDINU WOPUSA KWAMBIRI WHY ARE YOU NOT SUING BEN PHIRI FOR DETRIMENTAL EFFECT OF YOURSELF. THERE IS EASY MONEY THERE ! SEMBEREKA CANNOT GIVE ANY APOLOGY. WE KNOW THESE JUDGES ARE PAID BY YOU BUT SORRY HE HAS NO THAT STUPID TIME. TIMALOYA NATONSO

  6. Is this a joke am hearing? Are u sure and serious for Ben Phiri to demand an apology from Sembereka??

    Where was Ben Phiri when he was asked to apology to Shanil Zimbiri Muluzi after insulting her. Did he apologise to Shanil Muluzi??

    I think u are coward Ben Phiri, face the reality of ridiculing others as u did with Zimbiri.

  9. Bwana Ben pliz pa office palibe magalimoto. The office is too big it would have been ideal if you surrender that Ford Ranger to the office. Don’t be heartless most of us are using personal cars while BU 6946 ikugwila ntchito zachipani?? And yet adad allocated to you Toyota land cruiser top of the range through OPC. Kodi why mukalowa m’boma mmasiya umunthu wanu mkuyamba kuononga zaboma???

    1. ndipo magalimoto amene alibiletu ma number plates pano (not even IT number plate) ndi aja a ANA A DAD. mukapeza galimoto has completely no number plate ndi ya ana a dad, tiye nayoni. mxiiii agalu amenewa.

    2. For your alert Malawians these cars which have no number plates being used by Ben Phiri are easily stolen by DPP officials. BU 6946 and Land Cruiser yo ZABEDWA ZIMENEZO and if you want to proof this go to Road Traffic you will find documents being changed in his children’s names.

  10. Kodi kunyoza unanyoza x-first lady kuja unapepesa? Galu wa munthu Ben ukutumbwa chifukwa udindo wa typex wo? Osachita manyazi ndi gogo wako pumbwayo bwanji? Ufiti chani?

  11. Pena pake these activists are so careless with their statements. It seems they don’t realise the consequences of such caress talk. One could even be wrongly avenged besides denting their reputation etc.

    1. And BP is an activist too. Remember he also acted carelessly by insulting Madam Shanil Dzimbiri? So I agree with your logic that he, BP, is just as Sembereka.

  12. It would have made a lot of sense if this was being said after the Police had brought in the genuine suspect that would have been different from Ben!! Komanso ndimayesa mumayenela kumamuuza Sembeleka kuti abweletse umboni? Basi mukufuna inu ndi apology ngakhale atakhala ndi umboni……………..! Komanso apology sitipepmha chimodzimodzi ulemu……………………………………………!!

    1. A con man at heart, Ben Phiri believes he is clever, but everyone even dogs know that he is a con man, bought a fake doctorate. Time will come, he and his cohort will be exposed.

  15. We living in a world were you can’t name “suspects” “allegations”…….then you get sued if you do! But the petrol bombers live scott free with ka 5k they get paid KKKKK And the evil doers point fingers to Human Rights Defenders as the real evil doers KKKKK MALAWI will never developed soon will be totally like zimbabwe

  18. Let him go ahead if he thinks you can succumb to Ben Phiri.I repeat Dausi,Mchacha,Ben and co are the ones orchestrating these bombs because they don’t how democracy is.And if pity with this stupid Ben,he is so young but with evil minded

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