‘Liars in Chasowa inquiry risk arrest’

The Malawi Law Society (MLS) says witnesses who appeared before the Chasowa inquiry and told lies on some aspects, as established by the commission, must be prosecuted.

The MLS, in a press statement issued on Monday, says the commission found that some of the witnesses who appeared before it were deliberately untruthful on certain aspects of their testimonies.

The MLS statement, signed by president John-Gift Mwakhwawa, recommends to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to prosecute these people without delay.

Reads the statement, in part: “It should be put on record that knowingly giving false testimony…is a criminal offence under the Penal Code known as Perjury and Subornation of Perjury, respectively.”

The MLS also urges police officers involved in the events leading to and after the death of fourth-year Polytechnic student Robert Chasowa to stand down to lend credibility to the ongoing criminal investigation.

Adds the statement: “Consequently, and without prejudice to the errant officers’ right to be heard, the Society urgently requests the Inspector General of Police, the Police Service Commission and the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security to take appropriate disciplinary measures against the said officers.”

Inspector General of Police Lot Dzonzi in an interview on Monday said he had seen the MLS statement, describing it as an important input to the process.

The IG said they were consulting among themselves to come up with an action that seeks to protect the integrity of the police and give credibility to the criminal investigation.

Chasowa, a political youth activist, was found dead at the Polytechnic in Blantyre on September 24 last year.

A report by the Commission of Inquiry named some senior DPP politicians, some senior and junior police officers as well as some prominent businessmen and individuals as having played a role leading to his death.