Head of petrol-bombed Lilongwe family laid to rest: Mourners appeal for support to bereaved remnants
The remains of Selemani Tambala–who died from wounds he sustained along with his wife and four of his children in a petrol-bomb attack at a UTM party office in the capital Lilongwe–were interred Friday, with a relative, traditional leader and party officials appealing for support towards the remaining members of the Tambala family.
They also demanded the police to trace and arrest the perpetrators of the petrol-bomb attack and bring them to justice.
Tambala’s wife and one child already died from their wounds a week ago while the other three injured children are still battling with their lives with one reportedly in critical condition.
The other four children for Tambala that survived the attack, are currently in deep shock and sorrow and in the hands of the community which is looking after them.
The Tambala family -10 in total -and were using part of the UTM office in Area 22 as their home–were petrol-bombed in what has been described as one of the most brutal political violence in modern democratic Malawi.
Weeping and looking frail and distressed, Mercy Wyson–who is elder sister to Tambala’s wife–said she now has a daunting task to look after her late younger sister’s children.
“I am devastated and afraid. I do not do anything for a living. How will I care for all these children? Honestly, I need help,” she said.
She added that she is still waiting to hear from the police if they are doing any investgations about the petrol-bombing.
Senior Group Village Head William Banda concurred with Wyson, adding that providing support to the remaining family members is indeed important.
“As a community, we are currently using the material and financial contributions made at the two funerals to provide for the children. We are asking for more contributions to enable us put in place a more sustainable initiative for supporting the children,” said Banda.
Hundreds of people including Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) leaders Gift Trapece and MacDonald Sembereka attended Tambala’s funeral and burial in Area 22.
Trapence urged the Malawi Police Service to speed up investigations and arrest those who perpetrated the violence.
He warned government and police that failure to do so will ignite demonstrations for justice for the Tambala family.
“We want the police to arrest those who did this heinous act. We are giving them seven days and failure to do that will make us demonstrate for justice of these innocent victims,” Trapence said.
Among mourners were Mary Chilima, Lilongwe City South West legislator Nancy Tembo, former first lady Callista Mutharika.
UTM party had a number of its representatives who included National Director of Economic Planning and Development Enoch Mavuto Banda and District Governor for Lilongwe Urban Livan Phiri.
Banda and Phiri said the UTM party is doing everything it can to support the bereaved remnants through the party’s leader and State Vice President Saulos Chilima.
The two also said the party is pushing the police to investigate the matter so that the culprits are known and eventually brought to justice.
The ceremony was conducted in line with Islamic faith.
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Lessons learnt: Dont keep fuels in your house, its a disaster waiting to happen.
Rajab Malimba ndi team yako ntchito zamanja anu zikuchitileni umboni lelo. Guilt conscience ikupezeni basi mukadzipeleke nokha kupolisi. There is no way you live a normal life having murdered innocent people like this. Chonde chonde ngati simudzipeleka muyembekeze one week yoti nkhani yonseyi tiyi tulutse enafe. Tikuyidziwa from A-Z tikuwululani basi.
Their souls have not been lost in vain…..redemption for our country is around the corner and the Tambala family and all Malawians who have spilled their blood under the DPP regime sponsored violence shall never be forgotten.
Kodi nanga ma biggie omwe tinawaona pamaliro paja sakuthandiza? Kodi maliro nd malo a campaign ndi showbiz?
Tiziwelengani inu, kodi bwanji kumbwambwanaku?
Let us be honest these people were known fuel vendors and they were keeping petrol and diesel within the premises. On the fateful night a child accidentally lit a match that cause the fire. The only problem is that people take things politically. They want to blame regime for such. When the same happens to DPP they it’s self inflicted.
Shame on you!!!!! Be very careful – when you on devils side his arrows will definetely strike you too
Za chisoni ndithu inu zoona a dpp mungafike size imeneyi Mulungu akukhululukireni ndithu.
Dpp is killing. It’s surprising that its brainless supporters are busy talking about Kamuzu. This is a poor family and you decided to kill them. Atupele is busy with the dpp thugs just to sustain his greed for money. One you will regret all that you are doing. Mr. Pipe of dpp has been with two dead bodies of children. The country belongs to all Malawians despite the political differences. Peter Muthalika is not different from Foday Sankoh of Sierra Leone. He has nothing to do with Malawi.Atupele is behaving like Aba Shir of Sudan.
RIP.
DPP STUPIDITY
ICC ikazolawapo!!!!
eh kaya!!
Ntchito za DPP. Killed innocent people and no one has been held accountable. Don’t think you’re untouchable. Time will come. Dausi haa always been a killer. Now add Mchacha and Ben Phiri. Maula prison will soon be your home. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.
MHSRIEP
Am lost for words,the all seeing eye of the almighty YAHWEH is watching and the just judge will decide the fate of the perpetrators and their sponsor.
Inside murder by UTM and MCP thugs. These two parties are organising violence to implicate government but angozivuta. MCP will always be a violent party and UTM has joined the thuggery of MCP
Foseki
If you have evidence why not assit ak Akapokola with the information
Shame on you DPP Cadet! Cold blooded murderer!
RIP, we will still remember this family in the history of Malawi.Ntchito Za DPP and UDF alliance zikuchita umboni.Zipani zakupha. Kulibe wamuyaya pa upresident .Muchoka basi, wether you like it or not. Ndiye paja ndi around 6.8 million people womwe adalembetsa mu 2019.Ndiye 35% ya MCP yilipo kale original ndiye + subtraction, mavotes adapatsidwa Peter.Ndiye Kut Tonse alliance yingoyifuna atleast around 17% of which UTM has 20% ndikut yikukwanira . DPP and UDF alliance 38% yatippex, fake tally sheets and dublicates tally sheets,if there is no tippex,no fake tally sheets and no dublicates tally sheets apa kuberanso kutha kuvuta ndiye Kut DPP and UDF alliance atha kupeza 16% or 13% the whole country.Dziko lasauka,kumatopa ndi kupusisidwa.Mwina atha kudzabera Muluzi style yongowonjera manumbers, Ulendo uno wina adzamangidwa ndithu.MALAWIANS REMEMBER TO WEAR MASKS IN PUBLIC PLACES AND SAVE LIVES.
Amaliza albino ayamba kupha ana ku Mangochi. DPP ufiti ndi wanu
This is the work of Mcp pioneers cementing UTMsupport for the alliance. Let us also remember JUMANI KAMUZU BANDA, Superintendent Usumani Imedi who was brutally stoned and killed by a mob at Msundwe on the outskirts of Lilongwe and Chakwera went to celebrate. Also those who where beaten and property seized because they are not from Lilongwe. We remember when voting. Mcp is a party of blood.
Iwenso ndiye nzeru ulibe..do you think all who voted for Party A will again vote for the same…much has changed and izi zoti A+B =C…muzalira nazo. You dont know politics just keep your voter certificate if at all u registered…lets wait for the day..osatha mau malume
mukufuna achemerere zanu za tippex zo ndiye musangalala mwauponda . and infact just to concur with you that things have changed in terms of voting, people have clearly seen how the dpp and mec rigged the elections and people have lost trust mwa khalamba ndi mfiti zinzake zonse and they want to vote for decent people starting from looks, dressing, talking and human appearance .
This is a serious thing.politics aside.justice must be served here.life is lost in a brutal way here.