Ben Phiri withdraws case against PP’s Lemani: PP apologises for attack
President Peter Mutharika’s personal aid Ben Phiri has withdrawn a case in which he was accusing People’s Party (PP) youth director for south Lemani Chapitapansi of abducting and assaulted him.
Phiri and Chapitapansi met at Blantyre Police station on Wednesday to close the case with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) director of field operations disclosing he has forgiven his assailants.
“The president told us to let the past be the past. We have to forgive each other and forge ahead building the nation together. So I have forgiven those people who assaulted and attempted to kill me during the campaign period,” said Phiri.
He then urged the country’s youth to practice clean politics, saying “Let old politicians be ashamed by being disciplined in our way of doing politics. Let us show we can do p[politics and build the country without any violence.”
And PP provincial chairperson Isaac Nyakamera who accompanied Chapitapansi to the police station described Phiri’s gesture as sign of maturity.
Nyakamera said: “This is maturity. There is no need to fight, whatever alleged to have happened, should be forgotten. We appeal to all parties who may have similar cases to withdraw them as we unite in building Malawi.”
Chapitapansi was once arrested and granted bail by Blantyre Magistrate court on allegations that he led a group of assailants who attacked Phiri.
He was formally charged of assault of which he emphatically denied. He was granted bail bonded at K50,000 cash and one surety of K150,000 non cash as his bail bond.
Phiri was assaulted at Sunbird Mount Soche in Blantyre and was admitted to hospital. He claimed to have lost K200 000 (US$491) in the process.
Meanwhile PP has withdrawn its press statement it issued after the incident had just happened, arguing it was made based on wrong information.
PP Publicity Secretary Ken Msonda said has since apologised to DPP and Phiri for the statement it made.
“The Peoples Party (PP) would like to withdraw in its totality the statement made over the unfortunate beating of honourable Ben Phiri and honourable Nicholas Dausi at Mount Soche Hotel. The statement that Honourable Ben Phiri and honourable Nicholas Dausi were beaten due to misunderstandings over prostitutes / night street girls was made based on wrong information.
“The party wish to sincerely apologise to honourable Ben Phiri and honourable Nicholas Dausi for any inconvenience caused as a result of the statement made,” said Msonda.
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