Police deployed to guard President Lazarus Chakwera’s route to Mangochi have come under fire for ignoring a pedestrian killed in a suspected hit-and-run accident near Namadzi in Chiradzulu District.
People from Mitawa Village in the area yesterday morning discovered Samuel Matope’s body lying cold in a roadside bush a day after passers-by had reportedly begged the police, who had lined up the Blantyre- Zomba Road to clear the way for the President, to rush the injured 22-year-old to hospital.
Now, the locals are shocked that the cops were whisked away shortly after the presidential convoy sped past, leaving the man fighting for his life.
Gondwa. | Mana
However, the tragedy along the Blantyre–Zomba Road begs questions on how the community and other road users looked away as the man died in the cold.
As the bereaved family prepared for burial yesterday, fingers in Mitawa Village pointed to the officers who snubbed the call to action.
The locals said the deceased was lying just metres from the tarmac, but the security agents refused to divert attention from ensuring the President’s safe passage.
Ironically, during the election campaign, Chakwera promised to do away with the police who line along the road for hours during his travels. However, the sights not only persist, but the security detail’s eyes are firmly on the President’s motorcade—ignoring emergencies.
“We’re saddened and disturbed,” said village head Mitawa, born Wilson Chinogu. “I’m told some learners from neighbouring villages were the first to alert the cops, but they couldn’t attend to the accident even after
the presidential convoy had passed.”
The traditional leader wondered what happened to compassion.
“A lorry took the police officers away, but Matope remained unattended in the bushes overnight. How did they leave without checking on him or alerting their colleagues at Namadzi Police Station?”
In an interview three hours later, Namadzi Police officer-in-charge Nicholas Gondwa said he was unaware of the alleged hit-and-run until Monday night when they got a tip.
However, Gondwa referred further questions to Chiradzulu Police Station spokesperson Cosmas Kagoli, who expressed knowledge of the incident and said “investigations into the incident are underway”.
The Nation has asked National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya on how uniformed men and women deployed along the President’s route are required to handle emergencies. However, he had not responded by press time at 9pm.
