PP youth director spends night in police custody over Ben Phiri assault
The governing People’s Party (PP) youth director for south Lemani Chapitapansi has spent his first night in police custody after he was arrested on allegations that he led a group of assailants who attacked Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) director of field operations Ben Phiri
Chapitapansi was arrested on Monday afternoon in Blantyre almost a month after the incident.
Phiri, who is also special assistant to DPP president Peter Mutharika, was assaulted at Sunbird Mount Soche in Blantyre and was admitted to hospital. He claimed to have lost K200 000 (US$491) in the process.
He alleged that he saw Chapitapansi – formerly a DPP youth leader – as one of his assailants.
National Police spokesperson Rhoda Manjolo has told Nyasa Times that Chapitapansi will be formally charged in court this week.
DPP has been blaming the PP led government that is failing to arrest their youth director for the assault. During the DPP regime two years ago, their rough necks were left scot free even when they attacked political opponents in full view of their leadership and police.
The arrest of PP youth director comes after assailants attacked comedian Michael Usi as he concluded his public lecture at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe on Sunday.
The assailants, who numbered over 20, threatened him and forced him off the stage as he entertained questions from the audience at the end of the debate held in the hotel’s Sapitwa Room.
The comedian claimed his attackers were PP functionaries.
“The person who attacked me and told me to get off the stage was wearing a PP neck-tie,” said Usi.
PP deputy spokesperson Ken Msonda dismissed Manganya claims as baseless.
He said in the run-up to the elections anyone can masquerade as a member of the governing party to tarnish its image.
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