Minister survives attack, officials stoned

Malawi’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change Management Halima Daudi on Friday survived an attack at Mitundu in the capital, Lilongwe whereas her director and two other officials were injured and two cars smashed.

The incident happened when a convoy carrying Daudi and several officials from her ministry were returning from Dzalanyama Forest Reserve where they had gone to appreciate the damage done due to charcoal burning and firewood business.

She said: “When we reached Mitundu, we bumped into a lorry registration MN 3131 loaded with bags of charcoal and when we approached it, people [who sat] on top of the bags threw stone missiles that landed on several cars. It seemed they were already prepared because the stones were picked from the bags.”

Daudi, who was travelling in her official Toyota Prado registration MG 740 AF and was accompanied by an armed police mobile service officer, said two cars were smashed in the process and some stones landed on the driver.

But the minister said she escaped unhurt.

She said the matter was reported to Mitundu Police.

Central Region Police spokesperson John Namalenga confirmed the incident.