The Malawi Police Service (MPS) is carrying out more investigations into the murder of the University of Malawi’s Polytechnic student Robert Chasowa.
This week, a high-powered investigative team from MPS Headquarters in the capital Lilongwe travelled to Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial city, and interviewed people who had already appeared before the Chasowa Commission of Inquiry appointed by President Joyce Banda last year. The police recorded further statements.
Deputy National Police spokesperson Kelvin Maigwa, in an interview on Thursday, described police’s move as normal, arguing that in any investigation, police can come in at any point to “close in gaps.”
Maigwa, when asked what prompted the perceived fresh investigations, said: “These are not fresh investigations. There is nothing new. It is just continuation of our initial investigations.”
Black Moses questioned
The police team is reported to have interviewed politicians and a controversial youth activist, Black Moses, who was close to the murdered fourth-year engineering student. Chasowa was found dead on campus in September 2011.
In an interview on Thursday, Moses confirmed that the team approached him and he was taken to Kanjedza Police Training School in Limbe where he was interviewed for hours on Saturday.
Moses said he was asked if he had an idea on who killed Chasowa.
Said the youth activist: “I told them police killed Chasowa. I backed this stand with the fact that Chasowa picked an argument with senior police officers before his death.
“They were not happy with my response and they started suggesting names of politicians and I said no.”
Moses said he asked the team why he had to be interviewed again after his testimony before the commission of inquiry. He said he was told that the police had a feeling that he knew something because he was close to Chasowa.
Immediately after ascending to power in line with constitutional order on April 7 2012 after the death of president Bingu wa Mutharika, Banda appointed the commission of inquiry which released its results last October.
The report mentioned politicians in the former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Some high-ranking DPP officials, including regional governor (South) Noel Masangwi, were arrested and later granted court bail.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Bruno Kalemba told The Nation in January this year that he had finalised reviewing police investigation files on Chasowa’s murder case.
Chasowa was involved in political activism.
