Malawi police chief rules out arson in ballot papers fire

Inspector General of Police Lexon Kachama has ruled out arson in the fire that gutted Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) warehouse in 2014.

Inspector General of Police Leckson Kachama (centre) says cops will crackdown on criminal gangs
Inspector General of Police Leckson Kachama : No arson

Ballot papers and other crucial voting materials used in the May 2014 general election were burnt to ashes in a suspicious fire amid a court battle over parliamentary results in a constituency in Lilongwe between the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and main opposition, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP).

Kachama said a preliminary report after police investigations indicate the fire was accidental.

He said this on New Year Day at police headquarters in Lilongwe on the sidelines of a party organised for senior police officers.

“I don’t think the main report will change, the fire was accidental,” said Kachama.

However, Kachama’s comment is likely to spark a huge debate on the independence of the police in investigations involving allegations of a ruling party and the report is likely to be condemned by the opposition and the civil society movements.

Some people tipped the police that they saw a National Intelligence Bureau vehicle at the area just hours before the fire and they even gave details of the vehicle including registration number.

Officials from the Malawi Electoral commission say they can only comment after the report is out.

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Edoms
Edoms
8 years ago

Tired of fake reports you did the same with PAC on federalism debate shame to APM and DPP.

mbani
8 years ago

watch out these are indicators of 2019 mess. MCP put an eye on this wake up

Fathi Alshehaab
8 years ago

well am not surprised with he is saying it was not arson,cos he does not know what arson is! and his nib director was breathing behing his neck when he spoke.accidents fire by who Bwana

Mathanyula
Mathanyula
8 years ago

Of course you have to protect your job, what else can you say

Bob
Bob
8 years ago

Awanso ndi achitsiru. Why make such a statement amid investigations

Moya
Moya
8 years ago

Nonsense these are the people we need to eliminate in our country.they are Major contributors to us being the poorest nation. I have news for you kachama, you deserve to be locked up in jail and keys thrown into Atlantic ocean, That way malawi will b one step closer to being a better country

zimkambani
zimkambani
8 years ago

I think as Police Service renaun professional. You want support from the public and we give you some information. You turn around and craft reports which fit the Government of the day. We loose confidence in the whole Police Service delivery system. Remain professional and subjective

Khwethemu
Khwethemu
8 years ago

Useless Inspector General

Victor Jumbo
Victor Jumbo
8 years ago

Is the police chief trying to save his job instead of serving the nation. This is the problem when you have crooked minded politicians who always wants to get away with evil doings by using such Police Chiefs to spin the truth and replace it with junk cookies. That’s can’t be right and needs to stop right now. This can only be achieved if only our citizen number 1 , the president of Malawi Peter Arthur Mthalika is corruption free or clean in order to root out this nasty disease from all government and public sectors of this corruption thing.… Read more »

Beast Msonda
Beast Msonda
8 years ago

If you have material evidence and you are not satisfied with this professional report done by professionals then go to court and sue against whosoever you think is a culprit. You have that freedom rather than insinuating things that are not true. Who doesn’t know the voting pattern in Malawi? You are busy sleeping and snoring while the DPP is penetrating in other regions and closing every gap in the southern region. And you say you will win 2019 elections. Hehehehe! Forget it! LL rural, Dedza and Mchinji were strictly for MCP. But now you have allowed DPP to penetrate… Read more »

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