Lilongwe companies in attack scare
An anonymous gang is threatening unspecified random attacks on premises of several companies in Lilongwe, but the Malawi Police Service (MPS) has since called for calm amid claims that they are investigating.
The companies on the hit list seen by The Nation include Puma Energy (Malawi) Limited, BAT, MultiChoice Malawi, Consip, Unilever and entertainment centre Mzansi.
The yet-to-be-identified group is said to be sending their targets anonymous one-paragraphed threat letters with three bullet casings in a khaki envelope.
Reads a copy of the letter addressed to Puma Energy: “We have a mission which will occur on your filling station on 30th October to 10th November 2013. Our mission will be accomplished on these days; take note that someone who will be found on these days will be dead. Thank you.”
The targeted companies have since started alerting their employees of the impending attack.
“Please take note, especially Lilongwe residents, employees and all those that might travel to Lilongwe for various reasons in these specified days. Blantyre employees, please take note, something similar could also happen. I urge you all to not take this lightly,” one company wrote on its internal Google group.
MultiChoice Malawi country manager Stephen Knight confirmed receiving the threat in a telephone interview. He said they reported the matter to police.
MPS has since assured public of safety.
National police deputy spokesperson Kelvin Maigwa said the police are investigating the matter.
He said: “We got the complaints from several companies and we are still investigating. However, the public must not panic as we have deployed all the necessary strategies available to help contain the situation.”
Maigwa could, however, not give specific details, saying matters of national security are not for the public domain and expounding may jeopardise investigations.
In a related interview, Kanengo Puma Service Station is said to have been without fuel for the last four days; raising speculations that the operator may be taking precaution measures amid the threats.
Malawi has really gone down the drain in this year. What is there to look for with all this bad news?
That is the problem with Malawi. At a time when the whole world was giving us credit, suddenly from nowhere – crisis. Exactly like in Bingu’s time. One step forward, two steps back. Better remain in the diaspora my friend.