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Public, Police exchange Fire

 

Police yesterday exchanged ‘fire’ with angry residents at Nathenje Trading Centre in Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital, after the community accused the law enforcers of “hiding” their relation alleged to have risen from the dead.

Police fired tear gas to scatter the angry mob which, in turn, pelted police officers with stones, according to witnesses.

Helpless motorists in a queue after the road was closed
Helpless motorists in a queue after the road was closed

The commotion caused a temporary closure of a section of the main road between Blantyre, the commercial capital, and the main capital at Nathenje, about 15 kilometres from Lilongwe town.

Besides throwing stones at police officers manning Nathenje Roadblock that also acts as Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) check-point, the community created a barrier across the road that left motorists stranded.

In an interview last evening, Central Region Police spokesperson Noriett Chihana said the community was reacting to a rumour that one of their deceased relations had risen from the dead and that police were keeping him pending medical examination.

She said: “When our officers told them [the community] something to the contrary, the people started stoning the officers and blocking the road in the process.”

She said police were investigating the issue and no arrests had been made yet.

Human rights activist Undule Mwakasungula condemned the manner in which the community reacted to the matter.

He said by blocking the road, the communities were violating other people’s rights to social and economic activities.

Some sources alleged that a man who had died in mysterious circumstances was spotted beating a drum at a ceremony in one village, a development that sparked the controversy. n

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One Comment

  1. Losers! Superstition in Malawi runs deep. That’s why albinos are being slaughtered. Hyena-men are roaming the Lower Shire. Even the so-called religious beliefs are not far removed from good ole superstion, imo.

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