Mbendera’s poison death? Tembenu says Malawi polls chief had a sugar problem
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu made an attempt to play down speculations that the sudden death of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson, Justice Maxon Mbendera, was “state-sponsored” murder, saying Mbendera had health problem before his demise.
Social media has been awash with reports which have not been independently verified that ruling Democtractic Progressive Party (DPP) operatives were assigned to meet and terminate Mbendera’s life using a drug that could mimic a heart attack and would be virtually undetectable as a murder.
The said meeting, according to the reports, was arranged to take place at the Auditor General’s office pretending that the MEC Chairperson was being summoned to be briefed of many anormalies identified at the Commission.
It is revealed that an operative working for National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) but masquerading as an Audit Clerk was given “Calcium Gluconate” which is a very useful drug to counteract the effects of IV Bag hyperkalemia (which pathologists easily identify as too much potassium in the body) that can produce heart arrhythmias.
Mbendera is reported to habe engaged in a verbal tirade with Minister of Agricutlure George Chaponda who was being accompanied by chief spy Nicholas Dausi and DPP secretary general Ekrain Kudontoni.
He challenged to spill the beans about abuses DPP was making through the electoral body.
A pathologist at the College of Medicine conducted the autoposy.
It is said lateMbendera before his passing was profusely sweating, had nausea and vomiting, an irregular and slow heartbeat.
He was served with a glass of water and a cup of coffee whilst waiting for the planned meeting before his sudden death.
But speaking at Mbendera’s funeral in Blantyre, Tembenu said Mbendera was not fit and well.
Tembenu, who spoke on behalf of President Peter Mutharika, disclosed that Mbendera had a sugar problem, which was high according to his family, before he left for Lilongwe where he died suddenly on Thursday.
The Justice Minister called the allegations of foul play as “absurd.”
Mbendera was the first MEC chairperson to handle tripartite elections on May 20 2014.
He will be remembered for publicly and uncharacteristically weeping on May 30 2014 as he announced final results of the May 201 2014 Tripartite Elections at the National Tally Centre in Blantyre.
His gesture shocked many Malawians, especially coming against a background of reports of disagreements among MEC commissioners on results
He confessed that he had an emotional attack after realizing that he was about to make a declaration that would spark wild celebrations for the winning party when one family elsewhere was mourning.
MEC chief elections officer, Willies Kalonga, in his eulogy said: “Justice Mbendera was a father. He led MEC with a vision. You could not bully him. He defended us.He was a great son of God.”
High-profile personalities that attended Mbendera’s funeral ceremony and burial included Vice-President Saulos Chilima, former president Bakili Muluzi, UNDP country representative Mia Seppo, former chief justices Lovemore Munlo and Leonard Unyolo, High Court and Malawi Supreme of Court of Appeal judges, Leader of Opposition and MCP president Lazarus Chakwera, a number of Cabinet ministers and Inkosi Ya Makosi Gomani V.
Born on November 4, 1958, Mbendera hailed from Kapala Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chakhumbira in Ntcheu and is survived by a wife and four children .
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