Mithi’s post on Facebook draws anger on Malawi army soldiers for holding Madalitso Bus

A post on Facebook has triggered public reaction  about a Madalitso Bus Service, which was heading for Mzuzu and was reportedly being held at Kawale Police full of passengers after it damaged a side mirror of a Toyota Passo saloon car belonging to a soldier at Biwi Filling Station.

It is reported that the incident happened around 5pm on Wednesday and that the bus and its passengers were held for over two hours without reaching a compromise after a female driver of the Passo called in millitary police to assist with the situation.

“The surprise is, why hold the whole bus till now simply becoz of a side mirror? And why calling in millitary police for a simple scratch and side mirror break?” reported Julius Mithi  of Mzuzu on his Facebook profile.

Several people responded to say that was a simple issue to do with the traffic police to issue a report for insurance recovery process.

” I always wonder why our men in uniform are so heavy handed in small things. Sad!” responds Steve Sibande.

McDenis Kamende said: “This is pure waste of state resources.  What is the objective of insurance poilicies…I suspect one of the vehicles is not insured.Side mirror?”

Some people questioned that if we have such a vibrant military over such petty issue, why is it not active in some of the shortfalls that the country faces on daily basis?

Another suggested that maybe the public should ask MDF whether it has introduced its own traffic laws and that its officers would be going about detaining innocent people.

“I understand the procedure is that the police will issue the report thereafter the insurance will finalise everything after getting the three quotations, let’s move with time abale,” one said.

“Do you pay for car insurance without knowing procedures of claiming. If I was the owner of the Bus, I would start procedures to sue for loss of business!” responded Mike Mabvuto Missi

Max Biwi asked that the MDF General Sipuni should be informed that someone within his system is using Military Police to deal with an issue which the Traffic Police can competently deal with.

“[This is like] trying to instil fear. The General just spoke against such behaviour among the men and women in uniform,” Biwi said.

When contacted, MDF PRO Paul Chiphwanya did not respond to the questionnaire that asked if this is not abuse of power?

Nyasa Times wanted to know if the military personnel and their spouses and other relations should involve the military police over a traffic offence.

Malawian public is always disenchanted with MDF heavy handedness which amounts to abuse of their powers.