Embassy steps in on driver jailed in Zim
Malawi High Commissioner to Zimbabwe Jane Kambalame has assured the family of Elliot Kapokosa, a truck driver jailed in Zimbabwe, that the diplomatic mission is working hard to have him released.
In a letter copied to The Nation yesterday, Kambalame apologised to the family of the Almeida Transport driver for a wrong impression that the high commission has not done enough to have Elliot released.
Elliot has been in jail at Beit Bridge since June 7 2013 initially for culpable homicide charges and, now, overstaying.
In part reacting to The Nation’s articles on the matter, Kambalame said the embassy’s labour and social welfare officer, Arthur Ntandika, was assigned to visit Elliot at the Beit Bridge prison after he was arrested for accidentally crushing to death one of his attackers while driving from South Africa in June this year.
Reads Kambalame’s letter a representative of the family, Gibson Kapokosa:
“Lastly, let me sincerely apologise to you Mr. Kapokosa, if at any point you contacted the mission and you were not assisted.
“Mr. Ntandika’s job is enormous and I always commend him for the work he is doing, considering that we have cases of arrested Malawians and destitutes every week, including Malawians who die in road accidents in transit. I will revert to you on Mr. Ntandika’s visit to Beit Bridge as soon as he returns.”
Kambalame, who noted that her mission had since July been talking to Zimbabwe authorities over the case, accused The Nation of not informing readers of what Almeida Transport of Lilongwe were doing about the arrest and also for questioning Ntandika on the same.
Breaking the news, The Nation quoted Almeida Transport human resources manager Grace Mbewe as having said that, among others, the company paid for the lawyer’s fees and that their efforts to visit Elliot were being frustrated by the need to obtain Zimbabwe government permission.
Elliot was arrested on June 7 2013 for culpable homicide after he ‘accidentally’ crushed to death one of his attackers while fleeing on his truck on the Zimbabwe Beit Bridge side.
He was granted bail then rearrested on July 28 for overstaying in the country during the same time he was in jail answering culpable homicide charges.
