Tension surrounds soldier’s death in Lilongwe
Tension has surrounded the death of a Malawi Defence Force soldier, Lance Corporal Chipiliro Chiwere, who was stabbed with a screw driver in the populous township of Area 23 on Friday night.
National Police spokesperson Rhoda Manjolo confirmed in an interview that Chiwere was killed by unknown people and that investigations have started in earnest.
“We have received those reports but the information that I have is very sketchy. We are still investigating the matter and when we get more information we will tell you,” said Manjolo.
Army spokesperson Paul Chiphwanya could not be reached for comment but sources said Chiwere met his fate after picking up a quarrel with some unknown people near Masambabise where he had gone to see his friends.
“The incident happened around 9 pm when the victim was coming back from a drinking joint. It is suspected that they stopped near somebody’s house when four people emerged from a car and a quarrel ensued, leading to one producing a screw-driver, with which he stabbed Chiwere on the throat and abdomen,” said the source.
Meanwhile, one of Chiwere’s friends, with whom he was during the incident, has reportedly been remanded at Kamuzu Barracks guard room as investigations continue.
The death of Chiwere has sent shockwaves to many residents In Lilongwe and there is tension in Area 23, where there have been several unconfirmed reports of people being beaten up by sturdy men they suspect to be soldiers.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports indicate that another soldier is admitted at the Kamuzu Central Hospital after being stabbed in Mzuzu.
But when contacted for his comments on the matter, Kamuzu Central Hospital director Jonathan Ngoma said he was not aware of such an admission case.
Chiwere was buried yesterday at the Area 18 Cemetery.
Soldiers should refrain from beating up people anyhow in a show of revenge. They will regret as the public we start killing them one by one.
We know that soldiers are very indisciplined in Malawi. We know how they beat up an innocent soccer fan Mwale a few months ago in Blantrye. Mwale later died.
In Malawi soldiers think they are above the law. That is why they behave as they please. Can President Mutharika who is very quiet tell soldiers that those who misbehave they will be fired.
It is clear that it the soldier who started the fracas.
People should not wait for the police to defend them. In fact, do not trust the police. They fear the soldiers. Malawians should be ready to defend themselves. If they are attacked by these silly soldiers, they should also defend themselves. Just be ready to defend yourselves you are attacked.
How can soldiers leave the barracks at night and start beating up people in the township? This is what we call lawlessness of the highest order. Where is leadership?
I know of a soldier (a very lowly ranked one) who was once married to my relative but now divorced, and engages into robbery. He is based at Kamuzu Barracks but before then he was at Cobbe. He is into very serious armed robberies as a source of income. He was a wife batterer, hence the relation of mine did not divorce from from him but actually ran away for her life from the marriage. I bet he is not the only soldier of this type.