Mtekama burial ignores Covid-19 protocols as hundreds attend
Malawi Police Service Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director late Bob Mtekama was on Wednesday laid to rest at his home, Nkhono Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Malengachanzi in Nkhotakota without following Covid-19 protocols as hundreds of mourners thronged to give their last respects.
National Police Headquarters spokesperson James Kadadzera in a statement indicated that while at Blantyre Adventist Hospital, Mtekama had tested positive to Covid-19 and with an underlying condition of diabetes.
But contrary to common burial practice in similar cases, where hospital staff has been taking a leading role, locals buried Mtekama with no police funeral drill as is normally done when a serving officer dies.
“Whatever happened during his burial is not for police to comment on,” said Kadadzera.
The body was taken from Blantyre to Nkhotakota – a distance of about 400 kilometers – for burial despite dying of Covid-19.
Besides, some family members in Covid-19 isolation centres were allowed to attend the burial ceremony of their loved one, contrary to standards set by health authorities.
On failure to accord the departed Mtekama police funeral drill honours, Kadadzera said it was part of the Covid-19 preventive measures.
There was no comment from Nkhotakota District Hospital on the matter.
Mtekama was a respectable cop and tributes have been pouring in from many Malawians on social media.
Minister of Homeland Security Richard Chimwendo Banda said Mtekama’s death was a great loss to the country owing to his great contributions to the police service.
Mtekama joined Malawi Police Service in 1992 and before his recent appointment as head of the CID, he served as Limbe Police Station officer-in-charge.
He studied criminal law at the University of Zanzibar and was the only Malawian police officer trained in forensic science by the University of Malawi’s College of Medicine.
He was also trained by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in the US.
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What a loss, may his soul rest in peace.
Covid-19: The Movie: scene KK – the drama continues
RIP Bom
So he was sent to interview former president Mutharika knowing he had covid19. Some one should answer murder charges here, especially the Inspector General of Malawi police
It is wrong for health officials to deny proper burials for covid-19 victims because there is no evidence that the deceased could spread it according WHO. There only has to be strict measures like disinfecting the coffin and allowing handlers to wash hands and be fully protected. Anyway, a dead body is a waste and all we do is waste management. The dead don’t come back but we simply pay last respects. In the case of Bob Mtekamani, the police were able to take him because they can control traffic unlike anthu wamba and they also have ambulances. Why did… Read more »
It is not about the dead body spreading the disease, the problem is crowds gathering!
Something is not adding up. The Police know that Mtekama was killed by TONSE. At first, they said he had died of diabetes and a wound. When people asked questions, the Police rushed to say he had COVID. Then, they did not accord him burial with police honours when last week Chilima attended Mr Jaffus burial where the late was given military honours.
Are you drunk?
How will people contact virus from a dead body in a closed coffin? we can trust frotection from a face mask not a closed and sealed coffin. the virus is spread through mouth and nose from the lungs. penapake tikuonjezatu anthufe. zomwe adanena ku China aliyense kumangotsatira osafusako oro funso limodzi. 56 years independent? dzuka Malawi dzuka.
Ask health officials why they put those guidelines
You do not understand. It is not the virus from the dead. It is preventing people from breaking the social distance protocols. Imagine if one of those people in the crowd has the virus, that is why they don’t want the gathering. Do you know where the deceased got the virus from, apart from being diabetic? Surely no! I can tell you a lot of have this virus. Read about ‘track and trace’ and see how people are getting it.
This is a clear illustration of total ignorance on the spread of viruses. Dead bodies will transmitting viruses, including Corona. This is why they are placed in body bags and handled by people in full PPE. I will not be surprised if the non-sanitary management of late Bob’s body led to extensive COVID-19 outbreak.
The police and health officials at AHC tried to reason with the family and a few sheiks to buty him immediately in BT by health officials komatu mijyomba inavuta koopsa mpaka anangogiva. But I blame a police omwe anali pamenepo anawalekerera mijyomba to defy government health directive. Anaperekezanso maliro from BT to KK in their own vehicle patsogolo maliro mu ambulance. Kulafikanso ndi maliro kumudzi ngakhale sanititse. Akamafa ndi covid-19 zopusa apanga mijyombazi aziti alodzedwa
Kulamkhura mopusa uku ukamati midyomba ndiye kut chani bwanji simusiyanitsa mpingo ndi mtundu ku nkhotakota nkwa achewa koma ali asilamu
Midyomba yakwanu……bullshit zkugwrixana bwanj ndkunyoza….hatred won’t help .bring solutions not blamea
If the body was moved from death place to burial place, and normal burial was conducted for a police officer for that matter, how are we going to ask others to follow COVID-19 protocols? As a country, we have put oirselves in a tight corner.
It was wrong if Covid 19 public health preventive measures were not observed.