Muslim Council demands justice for slain police officer

Muslim Supreme Council of Malawi yesterday led hundreds of Muslims in Machinga in a march to demand prosecution of people who killed a police officer at Msundwe in Lilongwe during demonstrations last October.

The march followed reports that investigations into the murder of Police Mobile Service Superintendent Usuman Imedi, who was brutally killed in the line of duty at Msundwe, are yet to be completed.

Imedi, who came from  Mawuni Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Makanjira in Mangochi, died following a mob attack at Msundwe on the outskirts of Lilongwe City along Lilongwe-Mchinji Road, where police were deployed to quell violence.

The marchers presented a petition to Machinga district commissioner Rosemary Nawasha who promised to deliver it to relevant authorities.

In an interview after presenting the petition, Sheikh Yasini Katungwe said they are concerned with the progress of the case and they want government to take swift action on those involved in Imedi’s death.

“Our God (Allah) commands us that whenever we are aggrieved we need to take action. The action should be through the words of our mouth (voice) or body action. What we have done today, through this petition, is speaking through the words,” he said.

In their petition, the Muslims have given government a two-week ultimatum to provide names of people who killed the police officer.

“We want them to face justice,” Katungwe stressed.

National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera told The Nation on Wednesday that despite arresting four suspects, police are yet to complete building a case which can be presented in court.

But lawyer for the accused persons, Silvester Ayuba James said the prosecutors were given 90 days from the day of arrest to conclude investigations.

“The 90-days have elapsed without receiving any message from the prosecutors side. This is injustice to the suspects. The Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code states that if the issued days elapse, the prosecuted should be released on bail,” he said.

James said he will file the summons for bail next week following the missed deadline.

On October 8 2019, residents of Mpingu and Msundwe mounted roadblocks on the Mchinji-Lilongwe Road in protest against a rally which President Peter Mutharika was to hold in Lilongwe.

The police rushed to the scene to disperse the group but Imedi was killed by the mob. The next day, officers were deployed to Mpingu, M’bwatalika and Msundwe trading centres to arrest suspects.