Bingu inquiry spells out mandate

The Commission of Inquiry into the death of former president Bingu wa Mutharika says its terms of reference include establishing the date and place of death plus roles played by different individuals in managing the transition of power to President Joyce Banda.

But in an interview on Monday, chairperson of the inquiry, retired Supreme Court judge Elton Singini, said the commission is yet to discuss how they will handle the Mutharika family which has declared that they would not want to be party to the investigations.

He could also not comment on how the commission will operate after receiving the information which it is currently soliciting from the public.

Among several issues surrounding the death of Mutharika were the uncertainties over the actual date and place of death. There were also reports of alleged attempts by some of the top Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members to hand over power to Mutharika’s young brother, Professor Peter Mutharika, by-passing President Banda who was then Mutharika’s estranged Vice-President.

In the statement, Singini said the commission will establish the date and place of death; cause of death; medical attention available at the time immediately preceding his death and “the roles and activities of various individuals during, and in managing, the period between the death of the former president and the swearing-in of the President.”

Apart from Singini, the commission also includes Dr Charles Dzamalala, retired Inspector General of Police Joseph Aironi, Dr Tiwonge Loga, Dr Elizabeth Sibale, Father Joseph Mpinganjira, Brian Nyasulu, Esther Chioko, lawyers Jabbar Alide and Pacharo Kayira who is the Secretary to the Commission