Police shoot men for not stopping at checkpoint
Malawi police last Sunday night shot a man when he failed to stop at a check point on the Mchinji Road.
Lilongwe Police spokesperson Ramsy Mushani said they chased Victor Msonda, 28, and Tiyezge Msonda, 26, both nephews to People’s Party (PP) deputy publicity secretary Ken Msonda, for about 30 minutes after they allegedly defied orders to stop.
“Police officers chased them and shot in the air several times to warn them to stop, but the Msondas continued driving,” said Mushani.
He claimed that as the police chased and shot at the car, the two later disappeared into a road passing through the graveyard near Lilongwe Girls Secondary School. He said they were arrested on Monday after police were tipped of a new gun-wound patient at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH).
“Victor is the one who was shot on the shoulder as the police were pursuing the car. We are trying to establish why they were running away and verify details of the vehicle,” said Mushani.
He also said they are looking for another person they suspect was with the two in a Toyota Corolla DA 2071 which he said police officers on patrol suspected to have been stolen as its silver paint was different from the original red colour appearing on the vehicle’s documents.
“Traffic highway police stopped the vehicle at a roadblock on the Mchinji Road at around 9 pm and started checking details of the car. They demanded a driving licence from Tiyezge.
“While the officer was checking his licence, Tiyezge grabbed the licence from the police officer and immediately drove off ,” said Mushani.
He said the officers at the roadblock alerted their colleagues around the city to stop the vehicle which had no front number plate.
“There was another roadblock mounted on the road from Crossroads to Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) where police equally tried to stop the vehicle, but the Msondas did not stop,” said Mushani.
Meanwhile, police have charged Tiyezge with failure to comply with directions of a traffic officer and failure to display front registration number plate.
Ken Msonda said police granted bail to his nephews last Wednesday.
“We are going through a very trying moment as a family. We thank God the boy is alive. Truth on what actually happened will be known after the court ruling,” he said.
