Malawi army, FAM sued over football fan’s death following assault

June 30, 2015 Nyasa Times Reporter 64 Comments

The family of a football fan, who was assaulted in post-match violence and died in hospital last month after succumbing to serious head injuries has sued Malawi Defence Force (MDF), Red Lions FC, Super League of Malawi (Sulom) and Football Association of Malawi (FAM).

The late Godfrey Mwale's father paying their respects at College of Medicine Mortuary (CoM).
The late Godfrey Mwale’s father paying their respects at College of Medicine Mortuary (CoM).

Godfrey Mwale, who was a 24-year-old college student, was attacked about 500m from the Kamuzu Stadium on 10 May.

The incident happened as violence spilled over to the streets following a Super League match involving Surestream FC and MDF side Red Lions.

Mwale suffered acute hematoma as a result of head trauma and swelling of the brain, and did not recover.

Stanley Mwale, father to Geoffrey, confirmed to Nyasa Times that he has sued the teams through private practice lawyer through John Gift Mwakhwawa for justice to take its course.

Mwale, who is senior police officer said his son was assaulted despite that he was not in the wrong.

“I have sued Malawi Defence Force, Red Lions, Sulom and Fam because it pains me and the family as whole to lose such an innocent son just because of football when he was not involved in the violence,” Mwale said.

“The place where he was beaten was not at the football match. He was attacked at a bus depot while waiting to board a bus,” said Mwale.

He said the lawyers would proceed with legal action for the death of his son , who died at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital where he was being treated.

The game between Surestream ended in a two-all draw amid controversial goals from the team now FISD Wizards FC.

Trouble flared after Red Lions players assaulted referee Borniface Chipinga following the final whistle, angry with him for a penalty he awarded to Wizards in the dying minutes.

Some fans responded by smashing Red Lions’ team bus and soldiers were called to the scene from a nearby army base at Chichiri.

But so far nobody has been arrested by Malawi Police Service raising suspicion that the soldiers were ordered to beat fans by a senior MDF officer in revenge for smashing windows of their team bus.

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64 replies on “Malawi army, FAM sued over football fan’s death following assault”

  2. its really bad that someone should lose life just becoz of the game of football

  3. A MARK

    IF U SAW EVRYTHING OR NOT, UNGATHE KUPATSIDWA NDALAMA KUTI UKALOZE .

    HAV U EVER SEEN THESE SOJAS IN THEIR ARMY ARTIRE? EVEN IF ATAKHALA AKAZI AKO SUNGAZINDIKIRE MWINA NGATI UNAJAMBURA2

    NOnse amene mukunyoza asililkali ndinu zitsiru zimene munakanika kulowa job nde zimakuwawani.

    uyutu anafa coz adakafabe even adakapanda kumenYEDWA

    MALAWIANS GET A LIFE….if u r failing to vote for a rightful president to rule u,,mukufuna muphwesere pa asilikali???

    4tseck!!!!!!!

  6. Good move kunja kuno kuli Asirikali osati athuwa ntchito kumenya anthu awo omwe. That’s why Aids imawayoyola cos they’re not good people, mpira omwewo mukaphere munthu?????? Ndipo kodi league yakuti munamva ili ndi ma team a Asirikari????? Kusowa chochita eti??

  10. Professional army ache itiyo? Iyi ya ma pilot ongokhalira kuledzera achina Ziliro Kawonga?

    Kungolemba ana olowelera akazi ndi amuna omwe a kwa Ziyabu?

  12. Mac Wabwino

    Ngati umawona zonsezo bwanji sunamuteteze mwanayo?

    You are a BIG COWARD who could happily watch his parents, family….wife, children being killed in cold blood while peeing himself and crying!

    You are a disgrace, you should be having nightmares because of your stupidity ……… mukhotimo ukayankhaso mlandu umenewu……owonelera munthu akuphedwa koma osachitapo kanthu kuti umuteteze.

  13. Kumalawikuno timatenga zinthu mwachibwana kaya ndi dyera kaya .akuluakulu onsewa sakuyankhula chilichonse pa zakupepesa imfa ya mnyamatayu ndiye chongofunika apa ndikuwasumila basi akayankhe ps masopa court kuti zotere wont no longe happen again.sse

    See me in kk.

  14. Pepani a Mwale ili ndi phunziro kwa inu kuti musiye ziphuphu pa nseu. Mwabela anthu ambiri inu.

  15. Chilungamo ndi choti this innocent Chap has passed away. No need for court wrangles here. The MDF and FAM should quickly seek ways of compensating this family. I know nothing can compensate death koma olakwa should feel the pinch. If I was the judge I would impose a hefty compensation figure and ordered that all supper legue games should be suspended for the entire year. This has made me not to like soccer at all. All of us in the soccer fraternity are ashamed. Pepani makolo a mwana.

    I like this idea! Super legue be suspended! What does football benefit us as a country any way?

  16. This is sad, looking at that expense that young man was not a soccer fan.They must learn,they young man is gone for ever even if they compensate it won’t bring back him to life.Now this attitude has been there for years why the Nyamilandu siting on these problems not even taking to task,i mean how do you feel in situation like this,i know for sure these violence there should be a ring leader why not deal with him?Minister of sports are you there? not even a press release,Again other individuals died at Mwanza balaka turn off on their way back home from BB game, what have you done so far guys i think this is the time you must face stiff punishment.Think of widows and orphans due to these death how could you feel if it was you,See my name.

  17. Chilungamo ndi choti this innocent Chap has passed away. No need for court wrangles here. The MDF and FAM should quickly seek ways of compensating this family. I know nothing can compensate death koma olakwa should feel the pinch. If I was the judge I would impose a hefty compensation figure and ordered that all supper legue games should be suspended for the entire year. This has made me not to like soccer at all. All of us in the soccer fraternity are ashamed. Pepani makolo a mwana.

  18. Pepani Kwambiri Bambo,mulungu Akutonthozeni.Pano Mwanvano Momwe Anzanu Amanvela Anyamata Anu Akamawaphela Ana Kapena Abale Awo Osalakwa Ngati Mnyamata Waku Mzuzu Uja

  20. This is very painful indeed to loose a child in this way. The wound he has left is too deep to heal. Pepani makolo anzanga . May his soul rest in peace

  24. Enanu kaya ndinu asilikali kaya amuna anu ndi asilikali izo ndizanu. Ma coment anuwo ndi abodza sikuti poti ku Malawi kulibe nkhondo ndie asilikali azingopha ma civilians. Umenewo ndi umbuli. A Mwale tie nazoni chilungamo chioneke. Yes we love our soldiers and as a country we need them koma some of them amapanga za umbuli imagine ku Lilongwenso adapha a mfumu chifukwa chokana kukweza matumba a makala mu Tata. Ndichilungamo? Nobody is untouchable. Prosecute those involved. We need a well disciplined MDF yogwirizana ndi maphunziro awo. Za umbuli zidapita masiku a dzana akumangotora chisawawa. Lero akumaona openya ndie pakhale kusiyana. Zimenezi zitheretu!

  25. Anthu musaope kukomenta ndizoona msilikali sakuenera kupha wakwao kuno sikuamerica mbuli ya kunjako kuno ndi bwana akunowa azipita ku sch kuti mwina mwake reasoning izikhalapo

  26. usilikali wopanda khalidwe umapezeka ku MDF…… These guys need combat basi ! not football….useless.

  27. Th Malawi army is full of idiots! They are cowards but very good at kulanda mowa, kugwilira mahule, kumenya anthu okhuta masacheti, kugulitsa diesel wa TATA, kupempha mowa, kumenya ma civilian, kuthawa nkhondo ndi kudziombera!

  28. AMENE MUIKIRA ARMY kumbuyo ndinu omvetsa chisoni
    1 .kumpira kudali apolice omwe ntchto yao mkukhwimitsa chitetezo chomwe adakaitanira asilikari anzao mchani ?adaphadi mwanayo ndiwowo
    2. asilikali omwe adali mgalaundi anaonedwa akupanda ref,zikuonetseratu kuti ntchto yao patsikuli idali yopanda wanthu osati mpira
    3. adapanga authorise tata yasilikali kti ibwere kuchichiri kudzateteza amzao ndindani?ameneyu ndamene adauza asilikari (alonda awa)zochita monga kumenya ngakhale kupha kumene
    ngati onzanganu natukwana kukhululukani

  29. Inu a Rosemary …mukukana xoti mwanayu anapha ndi asilikali? Ine I saw everything ndipo I oredy submited ma report to the rightful authorities ndipo am ready to testify in court ….lucky enaf anthuwo nkhope zawo ndinaxiloweza.

  31. Alufeyo, you are just showing show stupidity. Since when did the army become professional? I think you do not know these teams. Army teams started beating up rival supporters a long time ago. They do not listen.

    Even the Inspector General cannot arrest these fools.

  36. A Rosemary Tengani, we are saying no to uneducated soldiers. This century no country would want to recruite brute soldiers. That is the consequence of recruiting brute soldiers. They easily turn against civillian people instead of protecting them. How can you operate military equipment if you have no school in your head. Chemwali wanga Rosemary revisit your comment. If you are arleady in the system, go back to School. It is not late.

  37. Lets hope Kachama the IG has investigated this issue. If not then people may easily conclude to say he is fearing the MDF. That will not work.

  38. if i were a lawyer, i cld represent this family free of charge… & see to it that justice prevails.

  40. This has been going on for a long time, I remember in the 80s, it was the same story…There are soldiers just lying idle in the barracks why can’t they be deployed to fight criminal gangs in town…and soldiers should no longer take part in any football competition.

  41. A Malawi mind you kuti Khondo ndiyopoira think of the countries omwe akhala pa khondo, most of the pipo amene amavutika during war ndi ifeyo ma civilians not those soldier Coz ma attackers amapanga attack ifeyo ma civilians.. Those buffalos they are beta off kuposa ifeyo coz they knw tactics and zolemba asikali coz of fitness not school zidapita kalekale ndi Kamuzu, go to British Army or US Army they don’t need any qualification only u shud hav a citizenship to enrol…. U can’t say kuti anapha munthu ndi asilikali just bcoz game yo idali yokhuza Army, nanga game yo ikadakhala kuti sidali yokhuza team ya Army mukadaloza chala ndani???? Za umbuli ndizomwe mukukomenta zopoirazo just bcoz u all hate Millitary teams!!!!

    1. mudayambatu bwno comment yanu nkumaparanso kumapeto?sadamuphe asilikali inu mudalipo pamachitika iz?nkhan yot ilimukhot sit coment tadikiran braz lawyer ndi a gibo kapena gift mwakhwawa ndiinu?

  43. I have never been to a school of law but I feel the army can not be sued in this case. Mulandu sakumanga kawiri. These guys were fined by sulom and they can not be judged twice.

  45. These bastards you call soldiers are animals who belong in a zoo. Send them all to Sudan, Afghanistan and Syria for life…we need souldiers who are here to protect not kill innocent civilians.

  46. Koma nd asiilikalid amenewa kapena a G4 zoona mwana wapita chifukwa cha mpira ? Athese mpira ku Sirikali basi iwo adzingo onera basi cz akalimbana nd mpira aiwala za nkhondo anthuwa.

  47. Vuto ndiloti mkhondo kwathu kuno kulibe ndi nkona akumathawira ku mpirako…ma team a chisilikali mpakana 12.. Zotelezi ku england, france,spain or itally kuchimake kunayamba mpirako sindikukhulupilira ngat aslikali ali ndi ma club mwa Bonya chonchi?

  48. Mwaganiza zomapha ana asukulu chifukwa choti munangochokera kubusa kukayamba ulondawo.I thought our safety is your priority?why are you slaughtering people like animals? Come on guys!!!! This is nasty. Shame on youuuuuuuuuu!

  49. This is good news the parties should be sued though i feel the law should punish the army heavily. As i know that sulom and fam do not condone violence but maybe they can simply pay the family including legal costs to get justice for the lost son

  50. Such an attack on the Malawi Army is unfair. Our army is the most professional and disciplined outfit unlike the Malawi Police who kill and maim at will. Ever since independen e it has been the police which has been murdering Malawians either as a tool of the regime in power or out of their own volition. I feel for the father of the victim and would like to see justice done. However i strongly feel insulting the whole army is stupid and a sign of ignorance.

  51. Anthu ambili tikuwona ngati kukhothi nkhani yakambidzwa kale ndipo Army ayipeza yolakwa kodi pamene adamenyedwera po amayenera kuteteza ndani ine ndikuwona kuti apapa apolice alindigawo loyankha koma sakutchulkidwa kodi adakateteza anthu ku mpila ndi asilikali nanaga eni bwalo amene ali asurestream sadasumilidwe bwanji mesa ndi amene amayenera kubweretsa security kwa team yobwera nanga apolice adapanga chani anthu akumenyedwa mgraound bus idaswedwa apolice adamanga ndani woswa bus zisamakomere mbuzi kugunda galu akaluma muziti galu ndiwoyipa mark my words amenewa akungoluzapo zawo basi sangawine mulanu uwu ndi wapolie amene ali iwowo.

  52. No violence at football matches. It really pains when you lose your loved ones like that. Since the father is a policeman he should also tell his fellow policemen how it feel when they shot and kill innocent sons and daughters of others, like they did on July 20. RIP.

  53. Anthu ambili tikuwona ngati kukhothi nkhani yakambidzwa kale ndipo Army ayipeza yolakwa kodi pamene adamenyedwera po amayenera kuteteza ndani ine ndikuwona kuti apapa apolice alindigawo loyankha koma sakutchulkidwa kodi adakateteza anthu ku mpila ndi asilikali nanaga eni bwalo amene ali asurestream sadasumilidwe bwanji mesa ndi amene amayenera kubweretsa security kwa team yobwera nanga apolice adapanga chani anthu akumenyedwa mgraound bus idaswedwa apolice adamanga ndani woswa bus zisamakomere mbuzi kugunda galu akaluma muziti galu ndiwoyipa mark my words amenewa akungoluzapo zawo basi sangawine mulanu uwu ndi wapolie amene ali iwowo

  54. Please, let the courts punish these silly bruts for their stupid behavior as if they have won any war in their lifetime. They are silly that is why someone embezzled their DRC and Rwanda allowances because they are fools. No behaviour at. What type of Army is this? Shame to their administration for lack of discipline in the Army especially when it comes to beating people with no reason. Is this what you are taught in you training colleges? Please change your attitude whether with or without Chamba smoking. Arrest the culpirits and let them pay Mr Mwale huge sums of money as a lesson. Idiots.

  55. violance in football is history let them punished without fever chilungamo chiyende ngati mazi mu nyanja analakwa chiyani nsogoreli wamm’awa mwamupha opanda chifukwa yu
    chonde nyasa follow these we want to hear the root and fruit of these stupit action of these bad carector solilders.

  56. Please just come out openly and settle your disgrace out of court. Dont let the family suffer more thru unnecessary expense. In fact you should have offered nit wait to be sued. How sad.

  57. Mbuzi zawanthu asilikali a malawi, we educated people have been waiting to recruilt candent but up to know not even know when the post will be posted in news papers, I remember one of my home boy today is a solder but not even have junior certificate,stupit silikali wakupha abale ake,musiyetu

  59. Army footballers shud be taught a lesson. Nowhere in the world did i hear a soldier tormenting a fellow citizen even when the country hasnt gone into war. Thats the disadvantage of recruiting illiterate soldiers. Many are not educated and got their job in those days at the community centre ground just testing their body fitness. Kamuzu anatipusitsa. If you are not into war, thanks God than exercising ur powers on the pple you have to protect one day. A life was lost and yet u are there enjoying yours. U will suffer the rest of ur life.

    Mark my words, you will never find peace.

    1. Hope you are right nyamata woyikonda nyasa coz sindikuwonako mtendere kupoli ndikungova this police that police there police here poice ngati alimo okha

  60. Timve zenizeni, a Malawi Army muwonetse kuti mbuli zanu mumalemba ntchitozo shud be brought to book sikuti mukasowa dziko lomenyana nalo nde shud exercise that on fellow citizens. Palibe dziko lomwe asilikali ake amazunza anthu like ku malawi, Vuto lolemba mbuli. Amakalamba nkhondo osayidziwa. Tikuzunzika mu kawalemu ndi mbuli zimenezi chifukwa cha dzina la usilikali. KOmanso nyota alibe mxi

  62. Can the sued parties make an effort to settle this case out of court please, this family has already gone through so much not to mention loosing their son.

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