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.

Mbendera’s wife Aida, and a grandchild being assisted to lay a wreath by Ella Tsukuluza, wife of bishop Charles Tsukuluza, founder of Revival Life Church
Mbendera’s wife Aida, and a grandchild being assisted to lay a wreath by Ella Tsukuluza, wife of bishop Charles Tsukuluza, founder of Revival Life Church

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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Tadala
Tadala
7 years ago

Ku malawi ndale zimayera anthu osapita ku school…coz umbuli ndi ufiti zimagwirizana. Inu muli ndima certificate..lekani ndale. Chenjezo…zomakonda kudya/kumwa mma meeting siyani…muzidyeratu kwanu. Kuyenda ndi cup like flask ndi nzerube

Fisi Dausi
Fisi Dausi
7 years ago

Does it mean Tembenu is confirming that Mbendera’s death was a result of sugar disease he suffered from, or is it another theory to counter that of poisoning?

Has the pathological liar Dzamalala established that it was diabetes which killed him?

This is the reason I bemoan Nyasa Times journalism, it leaves you as a reader in suspense with so many questions floating on your mind. You can’t establish which is which. It’s all pure tosh in Malawi.

Kenkkk
Kenkkk
7 years ago

Taking advantage of a person’s health problems to hide their evil actions is what dpp thugs are good at. Most of us are unfit and not well but do we have to die that way? Diabetes for that matter can’t kill an educated person like mbendera who knows what to do when it comes on or even travels with medication depending on the type of diabetes he had. How come such important people are mostly killed when there is some sort of a gathering? Where food and beverages are being served and where there is always presence of nib? My… Read more »

UDF
UDF
7 years ago

You can kill but not everybody……. Mudzaulululana

Mbava Yaikulu
Mbava Yaikulu
7 years ago

Calcium gluconate side effects include nausea, constipation, upset stomach. Rapid intravenous injections of calcium gluconate may cause hypercalcaemia, which can result in vasodilation, cardiac arrhythmias, decreased blood pressure, and bradycardia. Extravasation of calcium gluconate can lead to cellulitis. Intramuscular injections may lead to local necrosis and abscess formation.[11]

It is also reported that this form of calcium increases renal plasma flow, diuresis, natriuresis,[12][13] glomerular filtration rate,[14] and prostaglandin E2 and F1-alpha levels.[

santana
santana
7 years ago

These dunderheads were saying Mbendera helped the DPP to win votes yet the man was appointed to that seat by Jezebel Joyce Banda. Now you are saying the same DPP has killed the MEC chair, the one who helped them win the elections, what nonsense! It is Jezebel who can kill the man whom she appointed for not doing a good job for her. I thought the DPP would be the happy lot keeping the guy on the seat so that he does another good job in 2019? You the Msowoyas are really people of mucous brains. Your comments which… Read more »

Central
Central
7 years ago

I am too surprised to hear that and I quote “Mbendera is reported to have 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”!!! What were they arguing about considering that Chaponda is Minister of Agriculture not finance? Dausi is NIB boss? and Kudontoni is DPP guru? Amangetu is this serious or a fabrication? Can the alleged persons defend themselves please!! Mr Kamphasa, may you kindly tell us who was in that meeting!! A Kamphasa zonse chonde zisathere m’manja mwanu!! Please tell us… Read more »

chimpeni james
7 years ago

Winston Msowoya..kikikiki….you are very WELCOME….to simply put it in your mother tumbuka tongue from the DEAD NORTH (THENGERE) as Kamuzu used to degrade you all the TUMBUKAS…you are WELUkhaMU…..

Imraan Sadick
7 years ago

Diabetic persons do take coffee with no sugar, and water is recommended

Mapwevupwevu
Mapwevupwevu
7 years ago

Nomwenu mumati MEC should be probed for corruption, the probing starts, Mbendera cant take the heat, starts visualizing himself joining his fellow lawyer Rough Kasambara and dies, mukuti waphedwa! A Malawi simudzatheka!

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