The wheels of justice in the country are once again under question for dragging in the case involving five people suspected of abducting and murdering a boy with albinism which occurred in 2019.
This is the case that involved Buleya Lule, a suspect that was electrocuted in police custody, according to a Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) inquiry report.
Lule was being accused of the abduction and killing of a 14-year old boy with albinism Goodson Makanjira in Dedza district alongside his accomplices Kumbilani Patson, Sainani Kalekeni, Lukas Kagomo, Katiya Mizeck, Wiskes Gana.
Eleven police officers were found with a case to answer following Lule’s controversial death in the hands of police in Lilongwe of which three were acquitted. The rest are still are still answering charges related to the murder of Buleya Lule.
The delay of the two related cases however is having huge ramifications on the welfare of some relatives of the suspects in the initial case where several of them are claiming intimidation, victimization and death threats from unknown people.
Although, the report posthumously exonerated Lule from any wrong doing in the ongoing case some of his relatives who asked for strict anonymity for fear of reprisals said they are living in fear following a barrage of threats from people suspected to be close to the incarcerated police officers and other people involved in the case.
In an interview one of Lule’s relatives who opted for anonymity said they wished the case was disposed off quickly to give them chance to breathe.
Said the relative: ‘As long as this case drags we are facing huge pressure from people we do not know. Some have been sending us death threats through anonymous calls. They have been accusing our family of peddling lies that have landed some people in trouble. We are being intimidated, some of our relatives are now on the run seeking refuge both locally and in other countries for fear of being killed by these thugs. Unfortunately we cannot report these incidents to police since the suspects seems to be from the law enforcement personnel as well.
According to the source, since the case started Lule’s family which was awarded compensation the family has consistently being targeted by unknown people with threats of different kinds that has forced some of late Lule’s relatives to flee to other places for their safety.
Efforts to contact National Police spolesperson Peter Kalaya proved futile.
Last year, High Court Judge Chifundo Kachale sitting in Lilongwe found former Police Commissioner Evelista Goodwin Mvula and 10 other accused persons with a case to answer in relation to the death of Lule.
He said: “It was clear that there was an enterprise to extract a confession or conduct an unlawful interrogation which led to the death of Lule.”
Kachale said the court found no case against Ronex Kapesa, Robert Tchaka and Dereck Mitswati on the counts of murder.
The judge said: “The evidence from the record does not show in any way how those particular three suspects were party to any assault that could have been part of the chain that led to the demise of the deceased.”
Besides Mvula, the others found with a case to answer are Paul Chipole, Ikram Malata, Richard Kalawire, Innocent Wanda, Steve Mashonga, Maxwell Mbidzi, Abel Maseya, Wallen Joshua Chavinda and Chifundo Chiwambo.
