Police spokesperson Makondetsa dead

Ralph Makondetsa, a Malawi Police Service (MPS) public relations officer stationed at Chiradzulu Police, died on Christmas Eve after a long battle with cancer.

Makondetsa, a darling of the media for his openness, died on Tuesday at 6pm at Chiradzulu District Hospital, police and relations said.

He will be buried today (Thursday) at Chilaweni in Group Village Head Malunga, Traditional Authority Machinjiri in Blantyre, said his cousin Stanely Bayani.

Southern Region Police Headquarters spokesperson Nicholas Gondwa said Makondetsa joined MPS in 2002 and was identified as a public relations officer for Mulanje in 2004 when the police decentralised its public relations services.

“He was a talented young man. He was humble and jovial.  He was also a family-friend,” said Gondwa.

Makondetsa, 32, was second born in a family of three.  He had a diploma in journalism.

Nation Publications Limited (NPL) journalist Kondwani Kamiyala described Makondetsa’s death as shocking.

“He was a police public relations officer who did not withhold information. He was always available when you needed his services,” said Kamiyala.

Makondetsa rose to fame and became a darling of the media during the mutilation of private parts of a Mulanje boy in which businessperson Patrick Murama was implicated.

Murama was, however, acquitted of the charges.