Mutharika’s campaign visit irks bereaved families
President Bingu wa Mutharika’s impending visit to Rumphi Central Constituency this Saturday has angered families and relatives of people slain during the July 20th demonstrations in Mzuzu.
Mutharika is expected to drum up support for his DPP candidate Norman Nyirenda ahead of the bye elections scheduled for September 6.
In statement released on Thursday, spokesperson for bereaved families Aubrey Nkosi said they were concerned that Mutharika has not consoled them “yet as his priority intends to solicit support from the people of Rumphi Central Constituency.”
Nkosi said it was foolhardy for Mutharika to organise a binge party for vendors and also offer them MK1 million at the expense of compensation for the bereaved families.
He said Mutharika must have visited the bereaved and the injured as a way of detaching himself from the July 20th Police brutality.
“The president is yet to set up a Commission of Inquiry and we want to know why. And is asking people of Rumphi to vote for his DPP candidate when his government killed 11 people in the northern region, which he branded as thieves and criminals yet he wants their support,” he said.
In a related development, relatives of one of people killed during July 20th demonstrations, Abel Nyoni have sued each other following disagreements over condolence money.
The deceased uncle, Oster Kanyenda sued the Nyoni family after they pocketed MK20,000 which Atupele Muluzi gave to each of the families.
Kanyenda had already pocketed MK50,000 and did not want the deceased paternal side to benefit from continuing assistance.
According to Kanyenda, who even gave Abel his surname, said the paternal side abandoned the boy and he raised him alone.
But Senior Resident Magistrate Gladys Gondwe dismissed the case and advised the family members to settle the issue amicably amongst them selves.
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