MHRC opens palace mystery investigation
A mid fears that police and security apparatus of the State Residences are covering up a possible murderof a 16-year-old boy at Kamuzu Palace forest in Lilongwe, Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has confirmed start of a full-scale investigation into the matter.
MHRC executive secretary Grace Malera confirmed that the commission has finished preliminary work on investigations into the matter and has now launched a full investigation into what happened to the boy.
“I can confirm that we had preliminary investigations and we have now started a full investigation into what happened,” said Malera, but did not give a time-frame to the investigation.
Since the revelations of the disappearance of Ketulo Tayimu, a boy from the nearby Landscape Village, who is alleged to have been shot by a police officer after trespassing into the forest on November 4 2016, there appears to be no movement, on the police side, to investigate the incident.
Sources further indicate that officers at Kawale Police Station, where the family lodged a complaint, have been uncooperative on the matter.
“There appears to be no desire to open up on what happened. The issue is just being dismissed because it involves State House,” said the source.
When contacted, previously, State House press secretary Mgeme Kalilani said he had no information on the matter.
According to the family of the boy, they found in the said forest his clothes, which were stained with blood.
On Wednesday, National Police Headquarters spokesperson James Kadadzera said he still had no information on the incident.
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) national coordinator Martin Chiphwanya described the conduct of police over the matter as unacceptable and said circumstances surrounding the issue suggest cold-blood murder.
“We call upon the authorities to investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators to book,” said Chiphwanya.
The family said Ketulo, who is feared to have been gunned down by a police officer whom the family suspects later hid his body, went into the forest with a friend to fetch fired. According to the family, Ketulo’s friend escaped unharmed. n
