Man claims shot by police

A 32-year-old man claimed on Wednesday that police shot him during clashes in Area 24 in Lilongwe which ensued after police stopped a rally by UDF hopeful Atupele Muluzi over the weekend.

Speaking in an interview from his hospital bed in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, Anafe Bwanali said the incident happened between 4pm and 7pm while he was going home from Area 49 where he had gone to do some welding work.

“I boarded a minibus from town and on our way to Area 24, the driver said he could not proceed with the trip because of tensions ahead of the road. He dropped us off near a hospital in the township and soon after that a 997 police vehicle approached us.

“I ran away using a shortcut to my home but before I arrived home, I met two [riot police officers] who stopped and started beating me up. I told them I was coming from work but they continued to beat me,” said Bwanali.
He said in the course of his beating, the police officers said they could shoot him.

“One of them placed a gun on the side of my mouth and threatened to shoot me. When I wanted to speak, the police officer pulled the trigger and I collapsed,” narrated Bwanali.

He said he regained his conscious in a taxi vehicle while on the way to Area 3 Police. He claimed apart from head injuries, the police also broke his left arm when they beat him.

Nurses who attended to Bwanali said the victim had a gunshot wound but police told them he was involved in a car accident.

Lilongwe Police spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula did not answer his phone on Tuesday.