Growing reports and suspicions of Malawians of foreign origin dying “mysteriously” but without serious conclusive investigations have prompted Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives-CDEDI to demand an urgent public hearing to establish the truth on these matters.
CDEDI has since written the Malawi Human Rights Commission-MHRC’s Executive Secretary, Habiba Osman to call for the public hearing “that will generate vital information to quell the situation and ensure that justice is served to all.”
In a letter dated 10th November 2022, which we have seen, the local governance institution has cited several cases where it argues Malawians of foreign origin died mysteriously and did not get the needed justice.
For instance, CDEDI Executive Director, Sylvester Namiwa has specifically pointed out the alleged road traffic accident that claimed the life of a 36-year old Malawian of Rwandan origin, Emmilie Halimana Noel.
“We managed to stumble a post-mortem report that rules out the assertion that Emmilie died as a result of the alleged car accident. To say the least, the way the Malawi Police Service is handling the matter leaves a lot to be desired and to put it blatantly, they have crossed the line and shamelessly shielding suspects connected to the death,” reads the CDEDI letter.
The letter further expresses shock that police are playing tricks to avoid effecting arrests despite having “all the leads to the master-minders of the whole thing.
It adds: “This is a deliberate ploy for the matter to die a natural death or frustrate the bereaved family to give up on letting justice to be served.”
MHRC is yet to confirm receipt of the CDEDI letter. Again, National Police spokesperson, Peter Kalaya was not readily available for a comment on the serious allegations by CDEDI.
But in concluding his post-mortem report, Andrew Master Mwale, a Senior Forensic Clinical Officer at the Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe observes many inconsistencies in the people who provided their explanations and answers for the questions they were given.
“A complete and detailed police investigation to rule out a criminal act leading to the cause and manner of the death of Noel Halimana seems more appropriate than a mere assertion of a road traffic accident considering all factors discussed earlier,” reads part of the report.
On Monday this week, another grouping under the banner Concerned Citizens held a media briefing in Lilongwe demanding the safety of the driver of the Toyota Hiace minibus registration number KK3519, Raffick Munyamagaju, a Rwandan national currently remanded at Maula Prison.
The way Charles Mchacha is castigating the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Hon Kondwani Nankhumwa, is just testimony enough that Read more
If you thought Malawians are lazy people, I bet you a Dinosaur, think twice and you will know, check in Read more
The recent arrest in Malawi of three opposition politicians accused of planning to unseat President Peter Mutharika is dissent from Read more
The US embassy has denied involvement in an alleged plot to overthrow the president, Peter Mutharika. Analysis Media reports that Read more