Prominent businessman brutally murdered: Fear grips Malawi Asian Community

Fear has gripped the Asian community in Malawi as a prominent businessman was abducted and later found murdered with his mutilated body stuffed in his car boot (trunk) in the commercial capital, Blantyre, police and a human rights activist confirmed Wednesday.

Hajat: Fear insecurity
Hajat: Fear insecurity

“We got a report of a missing person last (Tuesday) night and today (Wednesday) around noon we heard he has been found dead,” police spokesman Pedzesai Zembeneko said t in an interview Wednesday. “We are investigating the motive behind the abduction and murder because nothing seems to have been stolen from him.”

Rafiq Hajat, a prominent Malawian human rights activist – himself of Asian extraction, identified the murdered businessman as Zain Mukadam, 75.

“He was going to the mosque for evening prayers; he never returned, he did not even reach the mosque,” he said.

Hajat said an overnight search with the police for the missing businessman proved futile until his car was found abandoned in Kanjedza township in the business district of Limbe in the city.

“His body was found stuffed in the boot with multiple stab wounds. He was a decent old gentleman,” he said.

The activist said fear has gripped the Asian business community because this was not an isolated case.

Of late there has been a spate of armed robberies in Malawi, including daylight cash heists, targeting at the Asian community which controls most of the retail and manufacturing business in Malawi’s towns and cities. Recently a policeman was gunned down in broad daylight in Blantyre as he was guarding a bank, also run by a prominent Asian family.

Most Malawian Asians hold dual British and Malawian passports. There used thousands of Asian Malawians scattered all over Malawi until founding president the late Hastings Kamuzu Banda decreed in the 1980s that the Asians should leave rural businesses to be run by indigenous Malawians while they move to the cities.

According to prominent writer and historian Desmond Dudwa Phiri, the ‘indigenisation’ policy was meant to protect indigenous business upstarts. But Phiri said this coincided with Ugandan dictator Idi Amin’s expulsion of Asians in the East African country.

“Although Dr. Banda never expelled the Malawian Asians, some of them took advantage to resettle in the United Kingdom while still maintaining ties in Malawi,” he said.

Most Malawians of Asian extraction are concentrated in the British city of Leicester.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the brazen spate of armed robberies, President Peter Mutharika warned that “honeymoon was over” for armed robbers for the Malawi Police Service was devising new strategies to check crime.

But Wednesday murder of Mukadam may indicate that the new strategies were yet to bear fruits.

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i m esa
i m esa
9 years ago

Deepest condolences to the mukadam family.

Sam boy
9 years ago

I cannot believe that Malawians can use the murder of a fellow countryman as a basis to vent your racial discrimination. A wife is in shock a son is lost in sorrow a daughter has lost her hero a family in mourning.Come on people this is not the time.Rest in peace my dearest Uncle.

nyasa boy
nyasa boy
9 years ago

Mwaona koma mukufuna kutulutsa zigawenga za kupha kundende imeneyo misala ya boma f*******************k

Long serving constable
Long serving constable
9 years ago

Kukondera mabwana a polisi mugwira nokha ntchitoyi. It is very sad to see a constable being promoted who has just served for a short period leaving mpalana akungogudubuka pa u constable. Both of them having same qualification. Zopusa!aaaaaaaaaas

wanangwa
wanangwa
9 years ago

You cannot fight crime without srategies. Minister of Affairs and IG shud sit down to discuss this.

kashimere
kashimere
9 years ago

Asians do not develop country look at lndia, Pakistan. White people develop country look at Zimbabwe, RSA, UK, US etc. Asians are like black they leak shit of white people thats why they are in whitemans land. Go RSA, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania you will find Asians because they follow the whiteman. Infact Asians and blacks are like hyena searching Lion leftovers. Asians like blacks are excited holding british passport. Do you think Whiteman is happy teeth out holding lndian, pakistan passport?? Blacks and Asians are alike they leak whiteman ass (proven). No wonder they are looters, corrupt, they even… Read more »

charlie
charlie
9 years ago
Reply to  kashimere

You don’t slap then pat on the back. We agree whites are fooling us and taking our country’s resources. But when have you seen an Asian blaming a black for anything else apart from theft and murder? Blacks murder n do juju in the village everyday. All this is side stuff. What the blacks need to understand is, their country is being finished by their own black politicians and the white donor countries. Not the Asians. compare the salary Asians pay to a black employer?. And remember Asian and Islam are different things. U don’t attack religion coz it could… Read more »

mathola
mathola
9 years ago

makape nonse mesa ndizimene munavotera zopusa eti

akanu
akanu
9 years ago

He was a very nice person, who assisted many Malawians. Some of us benefited from his generosity through his friends. He could assist many Malawians to get iron sheets on loan payable over a long period. I mourn such a humble and generous person who had a smile for everyone. What is happening to our Malawi. The Mukadams have been in this country for a long time, born here and grown here and contributed a lot to Malawi economy and development. May his soul rest in eternal peace and May God comfort the family and friends at this difficult hour… Read more »

Chingwe Chambuzi
Chingwe Chambuzi
9 years ago

I agree with no15. You voted for this shit and now you are lying in it and boy does it stink|

tonkhwetonkhwe
tonkhwetonkhwe
9 years ago

Chitetezo chalowa pansi kamba kama promotions mukungopatsana pachibale kusiya amene amalimbikila ntchito. Ponyo panu amene

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