Minister orders Martse’s death inquiry

Minister of Youth and Sports Richard Chimwendo-Banda has ordered police to investigate the circumstances that led to the death of 28-year-old hip hop artist Martse.

The artist, real name Martin Nkhata, died on Monday at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre after sustaining burns last Friday night in Monkey Bay, Mangochi.

According to Eastern Region Police spokesperson Joseph Sauka, Martse suffered burns after a house he was staying in caught fire while he slept.

Delivering his eulogy on Wednesday at Martse’s funeral at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe, Chimwendo-Banda, who represented President Lazarus Chakwera, said the version given by Martse’s family did not make sense.

“Martse’s death does not make sense. We are failing to write a report to the President to explain what happened. The police must investigate and tell us the truth,” he said.

Before Chimwendo-Banda made his remarks, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife Michael Usi also said the story of Martse’s death had too many gaps.

“This thing of saying he went in and he went out and went in again doesn’t make sense. Yes, we know nothing will bring him back, but we need justice,” he said.

Both ministers made their remarks after a family spokesperson Uchizi Nkhata narrated the circumstances that led to Martse’s death.

He said: “Martse was sleeping in the living room on a mattress and was charging a phone. Then fire broke out.

“He and his friends got out of the house. But Martse returned to the burning house, locked the doors and he got burnt.”

Uchizi said this was what he was told by Martse as he lay on his sickbed.

National Police deputy spokesperson Harry Namwaza said they will launch fresh investigations into the accident.

“We have heard what the ministers said and we will investigate the accident. We will focus on the circumstances that led to this tragedy,” he said.

Namwaza said once the investigations are concluded, they will share with the public.

When news broke out that the musician was burnt, several versions were reported, but police are yet to formally announce what happened.

Martse was reportedly on vacation with friends in Monkey Bay when the house he was sleeping in caught fire.

He was taken to Monkey Bay clinic, which referred him to Mangochi District Hospital and then later to QECH.