Some gurus behind Njauju, Chasowa murders – Mkwezalamba

The murder of  of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director of corporate services Issa Njauju and University of Malawi student Robert Chasowa mighthave been carried with orders of  someone “senior enough” hence government ‘s disinterest in expediting their cases, chairperson for Human Righrts Consultative Committee (MHRC), Robert Mkwezalamba has observed.

It is widely believed in Malawi that ACB boss was killed by a “state-sponsored” mafia-style attack.

Post-mortem results showed that Njauju was shot twice in the neck and chest before he was buried near Lilongwe River.

Mkwezalamba speaking at the International Human Rights Day commemorations in Mzuzu on Saturday, expressed concerns with government’s handling of the cases – to defeat justice.

“We have seen cases, just in a day or three, sentences being meted out. It is because they are ‘small guys’ in society. But the slow pace of these cases [Njauju and Chasowa] simply tells us that someone somewhere senior enough is part and parcel of these cases,” Mkwezalamba said.

The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for the Development of People (Cedep) have twice petitioned the United Nations (UN) to take the Malawi Government to task over the stalled cases.

Njauju’s brutal murder sent shockwaves among officers working in agencies investigating and prosecuting corruption in the country.

ACB boss Lucas Kondowe said officers  were  “terrified” with the murder of  Njauju.

Kondowe said Njaunju was not just an ordinary ACB worker but a key staff member as “a senior director.”

Police said investigations shows cashgate – probe into systematic plunder of public resources – could be the reason to Njauju’s savage murder.

Director of training at Police headquarters, Richard Luhanga said the investigators are pursuing a number of conspiracies.

“We cannot rule out that murder is connected to his work [at ACB),” said Luhanga, a senior police commissioner.

“What we are doing right now is to connect the dots,” he said.

Luhanga said police are following up “a sequence of events” that took place a day before Njauju was murdered.

Police also hinted at what Nyasa Times reported that the murder of Njauju could have been a case of mistaken identity.

“We are doing our interrogations with various people and also analysing information that we are currently getting from the public. At the moment, all options are welcome,” he said.

The father of Robert Chasowa, a Polytechnic student found dead on campus in September 2011 at the height of anti government protests, fears the culprits may never be brought to justice because they are in the corridors of power.

Austin Kings Chasowa said: “I am tired, justice is being denied clearly.”

Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) MP Noel Masangwi is on eof the suspectes who were charged for the murder of Chasowa.