Mutharika tells probe team on persons with albinism attacks not to be ‘manipulated’ like Chasowa inquiry
President Peter Mutharika on Monday swore in six of the nine-member commission of inquiry to investigate the spate of attacks, abductions and killings of persons with albinism (PWAs), advising the team to “watch out for people who may be paid and manipulated in order to provide misleading information.”
Mutharika appointed the inquiry team as a response to demands by Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (Apam) for the same.
Among those who took their oath at a ceremony held at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe are its chairperson retired judge Robert Redison Chinangwa, Abigail Dzimadzi, Paramount Chief Kawinga, George Jobe, Lexa Chalera and Brenda Vokhiwa Kapenda.
Other members are Very Reverend Dr. Timothy Nyasulu, Grace Massah and Hilda Soko. They are expected to also take their oaths later are.
Mutharika told the commissioners that the objective of the Commission is to establish the causes and circumstances leading to the attacks, abductions and killings of persons with albinism in this country.
He said Malawians need to know the causes and circumstances of the attacks, abductions and killings.
The President appealed to all Malawians with albinism to “soberly cooperate” with the Commission in order to find a lasting solution in addition to the measures government is implementing.
Mutharika also urged those who may have relevant information pertaining to the attacks, abductions and killings of persons with albinism to come forward and assist the Commission.
“But let me also warn the Commission to watch out for people who may be paid and manipulated in order to provide misleading information,” said Mutharika.
The Malawi leader claimed there is a precedent that people were paid to provide misleading information in previous presidential commission of inquiry, citing one that former president Joyce Banda has set to probe into the death of a fourth-year Polytechnic student Robert Chasowa who was found dead at the campus in Blantyre
Mutharika said in the Commission of Inquiry on the death of Chasowa which was led by Justice Andrew Nyirenda, “a police officer was paid money in order to implicate some people.”
He said: “I don’t want anything like that happening in this Inquiry. Don’t allow anyone to manipulate the process.”
President Mutharika added: “Therefore, we expect you to critically interrogate every informer in order to sift myth from reality, and truth from lies. In the end, Malawians expect nothing and nothing but the truth from you.”
The President said the Commission should be “the last guardians of truth” on the delicate matter.
“We expect you to rise above speculation and political manipulation,” he said.
In an immediate comment on President’s remarks, governance and rights activist Makhumbo Munthali told Nyasa Times that Mutharika’s statement may be interpreted by the public as a “deliberate tactic to interfere in the work of the Commission by influencing the outcome of the inquiry.”
He said: “The Commission of Inquiry should be left to do its job independently and should not be told who to listen to or not.”
Munthali said the President’s attack on the Commission of Inquiry on Chasowa murder is “regrettable and insensitive.”
He said: “This perhaps explains why his government has continue to ignore the quest for justice in Chasowa murder and that some of those implicated in the murder have been rewarded with public appointment.”
Chasowa was on September 24 2011 found dead at The Polytechnic campus in Blantyre with a deep cut in his head.
Police declared his death as suicide, claiming he had jumped to his death from a high rise building, but this claim was contradicted by a post-mortem report that said he had been murdered.
Meanwhile, Mutharika said the commission of inquiry on the attacks of PWAs is only one of the several measures his government is taking to end the plight of the people with albinism.
The commission is expected to finalise its work and submit a report to the President by April 30, 2019.
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Why not choose retired Anastazio Msonsa mukuwaopa kuti adzakuudzani tchutchutchu monga anapangira ndi Chaponda Maize deal mutayetsetsa kunena kuti a Chaponda alibe mulandu dzulo lake mukuti mukumana nayo inquiry team mawa lake, simunapulumukira kugula a court.
This was supposed to be in place a long time ago. Why react when under pressure?
But this commission is supposed to be objective in its finding so for the president to be accusing Chilima and Chakwera its not fair
aaa
Mr president where were you all this time? Is it a reaction on what has happened of late?
On chasowa, please tell us the truth. From the statement it seems you know too much .,.
If I were the President I would go straight away to include expatriates in the commission especially at this sensitive time and on a sensitive issue. Malawians are MORALLY degraded so much so that hoping to avoid manipulation is a far fetched dream. Opposition, governors and civil servants are equally immoral.. I don’t trust anyone of you guys. God help us
So the Chasowa inquiry implicated your own pipo and you claim the informant was paid? When this inquiry implicated Ntaba, Mchacha and the like you will also claim that it is fake.
My understanding is that the Probe Team is composed of real professionals and it is, therefore, not necessary to tell them what to do. They will be guided by the Terms of Reference.
The spirit of Chasowa is haunting our APM, it seems.
Stupid everything… How many inquiries have been instituted in my life time and which one has ever bore fruits. Apart from just enriching the commissioners with allowances and free lunch.
And just looking at the objective of the commission; at to find causes and circumstances. Lol. Who doesn’t know that the cause of this is illiteracy, which leads to poverty. What else do you want to know.
For me commissions of enquiry are just wastage of resources. Just command your Dausi to reveal the market of the albinos, the rest will handle it ourselves as owners of this country
Really making reference to chasowa’s death in such a manner?. This is rather heartless and cruel. If the said inquiry was manupulated as you have alleged, what has your government done to accord the chasowa family justice that they have been painfully denied of. A mutharika muzilankhula ngati ndinu kholo komanso ngati ndinu president . Malankhulidwe awa ndi chipongwe chachikulu Kumakolo ndi abale achasowa. Komanso ndisalankhule monyengerera apa uku ndikulankhula kwa uchitsulu ndi kopanda nako umunthu. The chasowas deserve justice for the loss of their child not this insult you are throwing at them. It’s simply heartless and cruel. I… Read more »
Good move Peter though too late. How did you select the team? Does the team include a member of people with albinism? Previous inquiries have never yielded any tangible results. How sure are you Peter that this one will be exceptional? I already see ‘Ana a Dad’ interfering in the process by hook or crook. I also believe that these inquiries are politically motivated. The government is trying to ‘be seen’ as doing its ‘best’ simply to garner support, in my view.
I agree with you.
There is nothing good about this. This is an issue that a competent president would deal with in a matter of weeks. With malawi police, NIB and the military at his disposal why should a president worth his name fail to decisively deal with such an issue. No need for commission of inquiry here. It’s a bout a leader being able to handle hard situations. Unfortunately mutharika is such a leader who simply can’t handle crises. He will always blame other people for his incompetence. Today chakwera. Tomorrow chilima . The other day Joyce Banda . The day after the… Read more »
There is nothing that is going to happen,apart from abusing government resources.
nde mukufuna chani agalu inu.
Tikufuna APM and Ntaba to pave way for the investigations
ok