PP’s Msonda in a brawl with truck driver: Malawi police yet to make arrest

The former ruling People’s Party (PP) publicist, Ken Msonda was involved in a wild brawl with a truck driver that left both of them severely injured, Malawi Police confirmed of the incident and have since taken over the matter but is yet to make arrest.

Police said the incident which occurred on Monday evening will be treated as a State case whereby Msonda and the driver will be charged with fighting at a public place as well as conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

Msonda and S&I Carrier truck driver, George Kanyenda got into a brawl at Liwanda trade centre in Machinjiri after a quarrel over a packed truck that blocked a road to Msonda’s residence.

Kanyenda had packed a 40 tonne truck on a road to Msonda’s house which infuriated the politician.

Tempers are said to have flared when Msonda got into the truck to remove it, and the driver instead started insulting the politician before splashing beer on him.

Kanyenda is said to have loudly called Msonda ”Wa PP uyu, mwana wa Joyce Banda (He is a PP official and Joyce Banda’s aide)”.

Msonda, according to police, retaliated to Kanyenda’s insults and attack by hacking him on the hand and forehead with a panga knife that he got from his car.

”Mr. Msonda was the one who rushed to South Lunzu police in Area 5 (Machinjiri) and the driver followed him there. They started fighting in the presence of officers. The driver hit Mr. Sonda with a glass bottle,” explained Blantyre  police publicist, Elizabeth Divala.

Divala said it was difficult to arrest the two at the time of the incident as they needed immediate medical attention.

”Both of them sustained serious injuries and were given a letter to seek medical help. They were advised to report to the same police station on Tuesday, but the driver gave an excuse that he wasnt
feeling well,” added Divala.

Divala said the two are yet to be arrested in a matter which she described as a civil case.

‘Political attack’

In an interview with Nyasa Times, Msonda who prides himself as a political foot-soldier suspected the incident to be a political attack.

”I suspect he was sent by some politicians because he recognised me as PP official. My life was in danger; he was so aggressive and my neighbours failed to cool him off. He splashed beer on me, broke the bottle and cut me on the hand, instead I had to defend myself,” explained Msonda.

He added: ”I rushed to police and he followed me there and attacked me again in full presence of three police officers. I thank the police for serving my life”.

Msonda said was waiting for police to conclude their investigations on the matter.

But in a separate interview, Kanyenda’s boss, Ben Chiwaula blamed the politician for starting the fight which he said had left his employee critically injured.

”The driver was coming from Mozambique and had stopped at Liwanda in Machinjiri to talk to a friend, a fellow driver from our company,” said Chiwaula.

Chiwaula said Kanyenda had left the truck, ferrying fertilizer, running.

”While he was talking to his colleague, he heard a sound like somebody was moving his truck. He rushed back thinking it was carjackers, but people told him it was Mr. Msonda an official of Peoples Party,”  added Chiwaula.

He claims Kanyenda did not know Msonda until the incident when people called out his name.

Chiwaula defended his junior’s failure to report to police on Tuesday as was adviced by the law-enforcers, saying he had fainted  and we rushed him to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital where he was discharged on the same day.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :