Police IG summons Chilima’s bodyguards over shooting in Machinga
The acting Inspector General (IG) of Police Duncan Mwapasa has summoned police officers assigned to the Vice President Saulos Chilima after they used live bullets to shoot in Machinga on Friday when political violence reared its ugly head again ahead of fresh presidential elections.
Chilima, who is UTM Party president and Tonse Alliance running mate, travelled to Nselema in Machinga to conduct a rally there but things turned ugly on his way to the venue as suspected United Democratic Front (UDF) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) functionaries blocked Bakili Muluzi Highway around Nselema.
Speaking in an audio that is circulating on WhatsApp, an eyewitness reports that people prevented Chilima from proceeding to the venue of the rally in revenge that Chilima has been insulting Malawi’s former president Bakili Muluzi.
The area is Muluzi’s home and the former president is openly supporting President Mutharika’s re-election bid.
In the ensuing fracas, Chilima’s bodyguard sprayed bullets, shooting two people who were battling for their lives and injuring others.
One of the people which the bodyguard shot was innocently on his way to the Mosque for prayers, the eyewitness said.
And there are pictures circulating on social media of another young man and a woman battling for their lives after sustaining bullet wounds.
The woman is in full UDF colours and it is reported she was on her way to a party rally in the area.
According to the eyewitness after the incident, the community mobilized to retaliate the shooting.
Chilima cancelled the tour to evade clashes.
In an interview with Nyasa Times, Police IG Mwapasa said the bodyguards are police officiers and will be summoned to explain their actions.
“They will be called to be accountable for their actions,” he said.
Chilima’s press secretary Pilirani Phiri took to Twitter: “Political violence rears its ugly face again in Machinga. VP Chilima has cancelled his whistle-stops at Ngokwe and Ntaja after DPP/UDF thugs armed with pangas blocked the road at Nselema… To avoid confrontation, cancellation was option 1.”
UDF leader Atupele Muluzi comes from the area where the fracas occurred and is running mate to President Mutharika took to Facebook to condemn political violence.
Atupele said he has information with regards to what transpired in Machinga and regretted the shooting saga.
“As much as the incident is unfortunate, live ammunition should never be used on the population. A woman and a child were shot at today. Wishing them both speedy recovery,” he said.
Just last week Tonse Alliance members in Liwonde and Phalombe were attacked alongside some private media personnel covering the campaign trail after their vehicle was smashed.
And irate Mponela residents in central region district of Dowa burnt tyres on the road, blocking DPP/UDF running mate Atupele on his whistle stop tour to Kasungu en-route to the Northern Region.
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Za HRDC ZONSE ndi zitsiru agalu agologolo pakunya panu agalu inu.
Where is Human Rights Defenders guys now? This is is the issue to call for a press conference. Unarmed civilians are at risk. If these guys are shooting at unarmed civilians what more if they get the power? How many will they be shooting. shooting a woman? seriously? Shame!!!!!!!! What are women saying now? Any apology coming at all to this woman? Let alone care for her in the hospital.
Many CSO kuli ziii akanakhala APM bwenzi kuli ngweeee ngweeee
Malawi is stateless nationless and completely failed state.How can the whole inspector general,police commissioner,officer in charge allow vice president to be ambushed like that.Zero pa 10.its good that you have few days to go 150days nomore.rest in peace ndithu dziko liyambe kuyenda
May we know the duties of a VP body guard.
The inspector general mwapasa hired the thugs to deal with chilima’s life, after the job not accomplished and that the bodyguards took a strong action to save chilima’s life this is the reason the reason they have the case to answer. If chilima was injured mwapasa would have been investigating the matter til five years to come.
Ameneyo ndiye chilima kodi siwomwewa anapha wa police kwa msundwe? Kodi APM sanalandirepo zipongwe mdziko muno? Sanamutchingire nsewu when he was coming from BT to LL? And for the sake of peace he just used a different route. Do you think his body guards could not be authorized to shoot all who blocked and were shouting at him making insults? Inu azimayi amene dzana mumanena kuti APM apepese ponyoza JB lero muli kuti bwanji wosapanga condemn this act moti mzimayi amene awomberedwayi si mzimayi ayi koma JB alright God has eyes everywhere will deal with you and mutha udyo kamba… Read more »
Chataika, To be honest with you, you will labour in vain to defend the indefendable and rotten DPP, imagine after the Nsundwe incident the cadet Mwapasa, acting police IG only sent police officers to rape innocent women and girls.Have those police officers been arrested? Have the DPP cadets who petrol bombed the innocent Seleman and family members in area 24, Liongwe been arrested? Did APM say anything about those innocent deaths? Your APM performamnce in Government for six years has been pathetic, Why is Nsanje Port,Mombera University? APM will be voted out of Government because of his sloppiness on issues… Read more »
Well, if DPP hasn’t built Mombera University in 5 years, MCP didn’t even think of building a university in the northern region for 31 years or was in power.
How many years did it take MCP to build Chancellor College campus in Zomba?
And did MCP think of building a port in Nsanje in its 31 years in power?
It’s true and they forget the background of all this people
The police officers who raped women at Msundwe did a commendable job and that is why they have never been summoned……..
You’re very stupid for saying this. What if the women were your mother, daughters or sisters?
He is being sarcastic. Learn to read between the lines
He
Tomorrow is you brother what comes around goes around
U can use live ammunition depending on the situation. The vice president has to be protected just as a President. Anywhere the President board guards use live ammunitions if the life of the president is in danger.
Owooo inu lero amenewo if it were APM’s body guards ikanakhala nkhani koma poti nid vice president komanso wa utm ziri bwino! Be on the watch God will punish all with partisan politicking. Mabungwe kuli zii inu a HRDC muli kuti moti amene awomberedwawo si anthu and alibe ufulu wotetezedwa konse hehehehe mukamamva nyekhwe ndiye imeneyo Mulungu abwezera zonsezi tsiku lake ndi pa 23 June pano we need to silence you ppo with evil mind kuwononga dziko lino
Chisale paja anawombera kale muntutu nkhani malume ilipati….osamapusa baba
You are useless . Even Mwapasa himself nitchewe.
Its the same old story heavy handedness on the part of the police but in this case people are like applauding what they did suppose during the demos some crazy police did that what could have been the story. EisshDPP police or rightly Usman Imedi knew he life was in danger bit did he open fire No he was professional and died in the line of duty. MHSRIP. Not these cowards trying to sow tomorrows promotion on incompetence