Bingu ordered killings, Mkandawire testifies

Mzuzu based politician, Harry Mkandawire, has said  the July 20th Commission of Inquiry on anti-government protest is wasting time and tax payers funds because it knows the truth as to who ordered the killing of people during the demonstration – President Bingu wa Mutharika.

“I find it a bit flabbergasting that you are here trying to hoodwink the public. I don’t think you are objective. You are wasting time here,” Mkandawire said.

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry on anti-government protests is currently sitting in Mzuzu and will head for Karonga next Monday.

Threats

He said prior to the demonstration President Bingu wa Mutharika had threatened demonstrators that he would meet them in the streets.

“And true to his word Police shot dead young people who have left behind their wives and children. Who could have issued such an order? It’s him (Bingu),” Mkandawire said.

Mkandawire- a former close ally of President Mutharika now turned bitter critics –  also took a swipe at the President,  saying he fails to respect and uphold Malawi’s constitution because his government does not listen to its people.

“Shortly after we buried the nine Heroes, he came to Mzuzu and held a Chibuku party just a few metres from the place where we interred our people. Up to now he has not condoled the bereaved families,” he said.

Reverend Mezuwa Banda of the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia said during his testimony on Wednesday that whoever ordered the killings was out of his mind.

On Monday, Northern Region Police Operations Officer Isaac Maluwa blamed Harry Mkandawire, Mezuwa Banda, Loveness Gondwe and Yeremiah Chihana for the same incident.

And on Thursday another Police Officer Bernard Ligoya Nkhoma, who was Regional Commander for the Police Mobile Service in the north, also told the Commission about Mkandawire’s alleged involvement.

“I participated in the demonstrations not as a Politician but as a concerned Malawian. And there is also a constitutional provision that allows demonstration. I will also participate in the demonstrations scheduled for March 3, 2012, “he boasted.

No fool

Mkandawire was given 45 minutes to testify but did it in 15 minutes because of a deadlocked that ensured following a verbal war where Commissioner Levi Mihowa was trying to force him to give a specific time as to when he heard from Moses Mkandawire that the injunction had been vacated.

“Don’t ask me about the time. I have already told your fellow Commissioners that I don’t know. If you are trying to get that from me try elsewhere,” he said.

But Mihowa persisted: “Mr. Mkandawire, I am not a fool and you are not a fool either. We are just trying to reconcile facts we have gathered here”

“Try elsewhere,” Mkandawire said repeatedly.

Then Commissioner James Naphambo told Mkandawire that if the injunction was not vacated the Police were entitled to stop it.

“So you mean they were told to kill people?” Mkandawire asked.

“I don’t mean that,” Commissioner Naphambo.

Shortly after his testimony, people followed him out and shook his hands congratulating him for telling the Commission the ‘truth’.

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