Malawi police closes in on Mphwiyo attackers

Inspector General (IG) of Police Lot Dzonzi has said the Malawi Police Service (MPC) is closing in on the assailants of the Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo and assured the nation of the results soon.

Said Dzonzi in an interview on Monday: “It is like a jigsaw puzzle where we have so far collected several pieces; we are now putting them together.

“We are acting with necessary speed on all beats we are getting. We would appreciate any information people may have on the matter.”

Mphwiyo, who was shot thrice by his gate in Lilongwe’s low density suburb of Area 43 on Friday night, is currently being treated at a South African hospital.

“We have taken up the matter very seriously and we have sent out several investigation groups. At the same time, as a police service, we are looking at enhancing security for all citizens,” said the IG.

He was speaking hours after Malawi President Joyce Banda met heads of all security agencies in the country yesterday amid unexplained circumstances surrounding the shooting of Mphwiyo.

The President on Saturday told the nation she was aware of the people behind the incident although police had no details yet by close of business on Sunday.

And in her introductory remarks at the meeting at Kamuzu Palace yesterday, the President said she had called for the meeting to “discuss the prevailing security situation.”

Later, the meeting went into camera with clear suggestions that Mphwiyo’s matter would take centre stage.

Afterwards, Vice-President Khumbo Kachali confirmed to the media that the budget director’s case dominated the discussion.

According to Kachali, the security chiefs assured the President that they will get to “the bottom of the issue” and that the culprits would soon be brought to book.

He said government shall also protect all public officers and all citizens that work to expose corruption, urging Malawians to report any suspected crimes to the law enforcing agencies.

He also said the meeting resolved that security should be stepped up across the country so people do not live in fear.

In attendance at the Monday meeting was Inspector General of Police Lot Dzonzi, Commander of the Malawi Defence Forces General Henry Odillo, Intelligence Chief Joseph Aironi and Prisons Chief Kennedy Nkhoma.

There were also senior officers from all the agencies.