CHRR condemns Nsanje torching
Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation ( C H R R ) h a s condemned Tuesday ’s burning to death of seven men in Nsanje District saying it is unacceptable and criminal for citizens to take the law into their own hands.
CHRR executive director Timothy Mtambo said citizens should report people suspected to be in conflict with the law to the police and traditional leaders.
His sentiments followed an inquiry by The Nation on the human rights activists’ position on the development in Nsanje where an angry mob arrested and burned the seven.
Said Mtambo: “The right to life is non-derogable. We should love one another. Citizens are employers of governments and if they feel that the police are not doing their job well then they should demand for better services, procedures in such cases must be followed.”
Nsanje Police Station officer-in-charge Kirby Kaunga said in an interview six of the seven bodies have been identified.
He said the six are Hamadi Haru, 30, from Khembo Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mbenje in Nsanje; Obedi Walani Alfazema, 30, Chimwoza Village, T/A Ngabu in C h i k w a w a ; Fr i d a y Fransisco, 30, Sijini Village, T/A Mbenje; Dumingo Aniva, 30, Ndenguma Village, T/A Malemia in Nsanje; Chinamulungu Dingala, Dumba Village, T/A Tengani in Nsanje and Phillip William, 34, Mphanda Village, T/A Ngabu.
Kaunga also said police have in their possession the bag containing the suspected human bones that was found with one of the deceased at the time he was arrested, but are yet to take them for examination.
The Nsanje incident has come hot on the heels of a similar incident in Neno District in late January this year where some residents killed four elderly persons aged between 69 and 86 on suspicion that they practised witchcraft and had a hand in the death of their grandchild who was struck by lightning.
