Chasowa’s first anniversary: YFD urges speedy enquiry results
Youth Freedom & Democracy (YFD) has organized a candle light vigil on Saturday, September 22 to commemorate the first anniversary of the murder of fourth-year Malawi Polytechnic student Robert Chasowa by alleged former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) assailants.
Chasowa was found dead on September 24 2011.
A commission of inquiry appointed to investigate circumstances surrounding his death is yet to come up with its findings.
In a statement made available to Nyasa Times, YFD president Alex Black Moses described Chasowa, who was vice president of the grouping, as a martyr, saying he died for his country.
Moses said the university student was brave and stood up for injustices that were taking place in the country under late Bingu wa Mutharika.
“Today marks exactly one year since the brutal killing of Malawi Polytechnic fourth year engineering student Robert Chasowa. As Youth Freedom & Democracy (YFD) organization, where Chasowa served as its vice president, we would like to take the opportunity to commemorate his death in a very special way by holding a candle light vigil at HHI cemetery where the body of our hero is resting.
“The event shall take place on Saturday morning starting from 8:30 and members of our organization, polytechnic students, family members, friends and the general public shall ray wreaths,” said Moses in the statement dated September 21.
Meanwhile, the group has since appealed to Malawi leader Mrs. Joyce Banda to take personal initiative in ensuring that truth about the killing of the university student is known and that culprits are brought to book.
“We regard Chasowa as a victim of police brutality and as such we shall always accord him the heroic respect he deserves.
“YFD therefore would like to take the opportunity to ask Malawi government, in particular, President Mrs. Joyce Banda to take an initiative in ensuring that the public is told the truth about what happened to Chasowa and that in the end the culprits shall be brought to justice,” added Moses in statement co-signed by his secretary Francis Kanene.
Currently, two suspects – Geoffrey Bottoman, 28, and Peter Petros Tembo, 30, -are remanded to Chichiri prison in connection with the killing which is said to have involved senior DPP officials and some police officers.
The two suspects were nabbed by police on July 17 on allegations that they took part in the murder of Chasowa.
Chasowa’s killing tainted late Mutharika led administration’s human rights record and President Banda soon after taking over, following death of her predecessor, promised Malawians that deciphering the Chasowa murder puzzle is one of her personal priorities.
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