Two villagers killed in prison shooting

Hell broke loose in Makhanga, Nsanje when a prison warder at Makhanga Prison allegedly shot dead two people and injured five others. The incident happened when warders were trying to disperse angry villagers who were demanding the head of a murder suspect, who they alleged was being hidden at the prison.

Malawi Prison Service spokesperson Evance Phiri confirmed the development, but said he had no details about who pulled the trigger.

“There were prison officers and police officers, we have no information regarding who pulled the trigger,” he said, adding that the prison is investigating the matter.

According to Newton Chamdambo, an ambulance driver who collected the bodies and the injured from Masenjele Health Centre to Trinity Mission Hospital and Fatima Mortuary, one prison warder allegedly fired at the villagers, instantly killing one person and injuring a 15-year-old boy who was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

“I also picked five people who have bullet wounds of various degrees,” said Chamdambo.

He said the shooting incident occurred on Thursday morning when the villagers wanted to administer mob justice on a fellow villager accused of removing a friend’s body parts.

“Police in the area whisked the man to Makhanga Prison premises for safety. This irked the villagers who waged war against the prison authorities,” explained Chamdambo.

He said prison officials’ efforts to disperse the crowd by shooting in the air did not pay off until one guard shot straight into the crowd, killing one person and injuring six others.

A medical doctor at Trinity Mission Hospital, Vincent Moyo, confirmed that one person was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, while others were being treated for bullet wounds.

“I heard that they did not bother to bring the other body because the person died on the spot,” he said.

Member of Parliament for Nsanje North Francis Viyazyi also confirmed the shooting and the deaths, but said he was not sure about who pulled the trigger.

“Government, through police, have agreed to take charge of the funerals,” he said.

Police authorities were not available for comment on Friday.