Policeman ‘accidently’ shoots civilian in Mzuzu: To sue
James Phiri, 38, of Mzuzu has filed an intention to sue the Attorney General over an arm injury he has incurred following a stray bullet from a Malawi Police Service (MPS) officer Wednesday afternoon.
Phiri, who looked in indescribable pain during an exclusive interview with Nyasa Times, said he was “afraid the same thing is going to happen again.”
A driver by profession, Phiri said he was walking about the street – in the central business district – when he heard a gunshot.
“I didn’t know what was happening until I felt pain all over my body and saw blood gushing out. I shouted for help,” narrated Phiri.
Eye witnesses told Nyasa Times that two police officers on patrol had been toying with a rifle when, as they handed the rifle over to each other, the gun was accidentally fired.
A medical report by Mzuzu Central Hospital confirms Phiri was “accidentally”shot.
He was treated for severe bleeding on Wednesday and Thursday, and is expected to report to the hospital again on Friday for an operation to remove the bullet.
Nyasa Times investigations indicate that Police is shielding the cop who fired the gun,.
Pondela of the Criminal Investigation Department took the victim to the hospital.
Maurice Chapola, northern region police spokesperson, “confirmed” the development but could not divulge further details.
The notice of intended suit against the attorney general, signed by private practice lawyer Victor Gondwe of John Tennyson & Associates on behalf of Phiri, states that “upon the expiry of ninety days we will commence legal proceedings against yourselves as is statutorily required.”
It is not the first time that police have been involved in such malpractices. Their negligence is alleged to have also resulted in the deaths of University of Malawi (Unima) students Fanikiso Phiri and Robert Chasowa and legendary reggae musician Evison Matafale.
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There is no secret under the sun E
Nkhani yikumveka tiyeninawoni apolisi ndibomalawo mwandikumbutsa evison matafale ndi fanikizo phiri ntima wanga wandipweteka
muthuyotu mumulipire sikutinso mumpondereze ndiapolisi anu mumangotengana pachibale asanapite ku xool
One think I’ve noted is that Police department lacks arms discipline right from training. In the army no soldier can just point a gun at a fellow soldier or anyway even when he is sure that there r no bullets. It is a crime to fire accidentary. One can even loose his/her job for accidental shooting at anyone. Or just misfire. That police officer plus his charged with negligence. And also the shoot must be charged with unlawful wounding. Or even attempted manslaughter. Becoz if was on a chest,we cud hv been talking of something. Let others take a lesson. Weapon handling is very poor in Police Service. And how can a medical report asserts that its an “accidental” shooting. Do they have machine to test intentions of any shooting. They shud just say he was shot by a gun and lost blood not whether intentional or accidental!
I wish him quick recovery. Just as human right defender said, guns are not toy. What if the man wasn’t so lucky. The police force need to perform their duties as duties. The officers involved should be reprimanded.
It wasn’t un accident coz mfuti singaombe yokha, their is a long process kuti Chipolopolo chituluke, One He put the Mag two he cooked the rifle meaning to say it was his Intention to shoot then akutsekula safety Catch, last Stage akufinya trigger… U say Gents almost 5 to 6 stage kuti munthu aombe nde ur calling it “accident” God forbid kodi agaylu inu amakuphuzitsani chani ku Police kwanuko….. That is not Accidental Discharge…. but Zadala or Negligence
Policemen toying with a rifle? In the middle of a city? Really? Are we talking of trained policemen or….? Who trained them? We are always hearing that our policemen and policewomen are professionals. Are these among such? If they are, I have free advice for Malawians and it is this: Keep a safe distance from any professional policeman you see! Wakumva amve, ine ndanena.
Ya that’s bad for Phiri but there is nothing wrong to sue the government he needs that financial assistance.
There is need for progressive training in weapon handling in the MPS to avoid future occurrences otherwise similar incidents will continue. Remember Epiphania Bonjesi, Fanikiso Phiri, a certain soldier in Zomba and others.
Weapons have safety catch…you can only fire when you intentionally realise the safety pin……what happened here is beyond belief !!!
Apolisi mfuti angoona ngati matoy chifukwa apolisi enawa nditimakanda angochosedwa pabele asanasiye kuyamwa ndikulembedwa ntchito.
You see a police officer carrying a gun, your life becomes endangered immediately. Why? He or she can accidentally kill you. Malawi @ 51
Guns are not toys to be toyed around.That is total negligence.Luckily the guy was not killed.The police should stop shielding one of their incompetent careless trigger happy colleague.The victim needs to compensated heavily to deter some policemen/women who are very negligent with their rifles during patrols.Guns in the hands of irresponsible people kills.
Ameneyo atha kukhala Numeri Police Officer-ass constable uyu akakhala ndi mufti amakonda kuseweretsa. Please, let the law take its course
No sorry after death police have to be arrested and charged for attempting murder
Apolisi wopusa wokuba
Kodi ndi pachibale ndi Daniel phiri uja midnight six inamutumiza ku south Africa uja? Ndangoti ndidziwe nawo.
Anyanya nawo a police amangoti unjiunji n’town….malo amodzi a police 22 m’malo momwazikana koma kuunjikana pa Old Kandodo.
@ Musamude. You must be very stupid. Do you mean all police officers are brute. You must be very stupid.
ma trainie achulukitsa m’matawunimu
Oh gosh! Lord have mercy.
Apolisi opusa mukulephera kuwombera mbava zokuba ndi mfuti mkumalimbana ndi anthu osalakwa, ufiti chati? Be professional in your daily business
Nobody is above the law, go and sue
what a shame
Makape
They go to police training schools to learn robbery
Malawian policemen are trained in begging zinazo later
Zitsiru, zisumireni kumene.
Accidentally u say – how did he put his finger on trigger accidentally and fired a shot – dont understand. train those police men properly. Police have have no right to sheild the one who pulled the trigger
Umangoziwiratu kuti mbava zokuba ndi mfutitu izi! Zikumangokhalira safety catch! Green!
Mwati Bin Laden anafadi?
Praise God sanamwalire!! A police koma mowa ndi kuchinda mahule puleni
Very sad
very sad
useless people
“Matama ngati mkazi wa Polisi” “Matama ngati ana a Polisi” Ife timakonda a MDF osati awa ayi.
Hihihi. Either those comenting are soldiers, policemen or armed robbers. How do you know a Safety Catch a mangwetu?
I need to be educated guys..how would the hospital personels know that the bullet was accidentaly as they call it..whats the connection?
A police a Pa Malawi safunika kumapatsa futi ayi,iwo amaziwa ku gwiritsa ntchito bwino Ndodo.
a chipatal namunso zotsiru. kuzolowera kuba mankhwala. how did you know that is was accidental. nonse agalu
Koma mutitha chaka chino.
agalu a police koma kuba basi nchito sadziwa tatopa nawo kuno ku mzuzu. tidzingowapha tsopano atidziwanso
akapokola sadziwa mfuti
abale tikamati apolisiwa ndi mbuli tikunama?nanga training ya six months basi kenako akayambe ntchito. mutiphera anthu zitsiru inu
They don’t know the safety of the rifle. Check them each and every time, how they pick/handle the rifle. Its like a wooden stick (khuni) for cooking nsima.
Mwampweteka mwana waweni.
Not only was that one injured. some business people had to leave their items running for their dear lives after the sound of that gun. Careless cops indeed.
Do you think we can trust our hspitals if they talk such shameless lies. What machinery did they use to come up with such conclusion? (ACCIDENTALLY?) Does this mean that government is recruiting amateurs through cashgate styles? Is our government led by criminals who use the word (ACCIDENTALLY) whenever it’s Intentional? Let’s wait and see the end of the case.
Chasowa and Matafale did not die of stray bullets. They were deliberately Killed, is that clear Nyasa Times?
sadziwa ntchito yawo anthu amenewa, sue them
These are surely half baked policemen. May be they were trained in one week.
AS far as I know a properly trained policeman should know how to handle the weapon.
On streets like ours why patrolling with a rifle that is already made ready as if you are patrolling in the war zone? Again why the safety catch was off? Why to did the policeman put his finger on trigger?
Rule of the thumb: All weapons must be green for patrol police wherever danger is not on eminent.
The medical report should have not mentioned anything regarding whether the shooting was accidentally or not as this falls outside medical personels’ responsibility.
Anazowela ndodo apoliwa mfutizi dzubwela mochebwa. Sue them enormously for the pain and suffering. As a driver your life has been ruined and at your age the healing process is likely to prolong and never fully recover. Get the best lawyer money can buy to see to it that justice is served.
Stupid cops! How do they move with guns that are not on Safety catch?Sue the govt so that such cops could learn something on how to handle guns in public.A real cop must know on how to fix the SAFETY CATCH lever on his gun.