Seodi backs Nankhumwa claims ‘Bingu’s death wasn’t natural’

Lawyer and human rights activist Seodi White has backed Information Minister Kondwani Nankhumwa stand suggesting that former president Joyce Banda and co-conspirators should be arrested and investigated for the murder of former president Bingu wa Mutharika, her predecessor.

Though Nankhumwa referred to Banda only as “JB”, that is evidently what she is called in Malawi, claimed Bingu was assassinated by people who were desperate to rule the country and that evidence of the plot to kill him is contained in a document titled ‘JB Project’.

Mutharika died in April 2012 – supposedly of a heart attack. There were suggestions at the time, never proven, that he might have been overexerting himself with a female MP Agnes Penemulungu who was in an audience with him at the time of his collapse.

President Peter Mutharika, who did not comment on Nankhumwa’s claims during the Bingu Memorial when he spoke after him, has since disowned the government spokesman’s statement as his personal views.

But Seodi White, national coordinator for Women and Law in Southern Africa, has argued that Nankhumwa has a point in his claims.

“You don’t know that every story has many sides to it? What if it is true that Bingu’s death was not a natural one? Just think for a moment if that is true? It might be true or might not be true so why do you want Nankhumwa not to talk about the other probability? Why do you want to stick to one reality? For me I have no problem with his assertions. We all deserve to know what really happened,” states White in her post on Facebook.

“And I want to tell you here today that me Seodi White has never believed not one ounce that My President Bingu died of natural causes. Never! I have a full theory backed by evidence to prove it”

University of Malawi (Unima) political science experts have argued that the government machinery was testing public opinion.

Meanwhile, Banda is seeking damages for defamation from Nankhumwa over the remarks he made.

Banda is also seeking an injunction restraining Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) from rebroadcasting the speech Nankhumwa made.

According to Judiciary spokesperson, Mlenga Mvula, Banda lodged her defamation lawsuit at the High Court through lawyer Lusungu Gondwe.

The court is yet to assign a judge to the case, Mvula said.