Police kill minibus call boy, ignite angry protests
There was commotion in Limbe, Blantyre, Wednesday and business came to a standstill for over four hours as vendors engaged in running battles with police after one of their own was shot and killed.
According to eye witnesses, Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) officials, accompanied by police officers, visited Limbe Bus Depot where they started checking vehicle documents. Sources say, when they came across a minibus, registration number NB1728, the officers tried to impound it because it had no tax papers.
Eye-witness said there were arguments between the officers and the driver of the minibus, who refused to hand over keys of the minibus to the tax collectors
After a protracted argument, a scuffle ensued and some spectators tried to grab a gun from one of the officers. In reaction, the officer pulled the trigger and shot Limited Mitozo, 43, of Dzanjuja Village in Nsanje District.
Southern Region Pol ice spokesperson, Ramsy Mushani, confirmed the incident, but said the shooting was accidental.
“I can confirm that the incident took place but the officer, who is attached to MRA, was trying to protect himself. You know working in Limbe at that hour brings unnecessary anxiety and commotion,” Mushani said
“When the officers were arguing with the driver, vendors were on the loose and could have overpowered our men. For fear of being attacked, one officer fired but accidentally killed someone who was not involved in the incident.”
During the commotion, a police anti-crime patrol vehicle, registration number MP2328, was stoned and its windscreen was destroyed.
An eyewitness said that the scene got ugly when police took the body without explaining what had happened.
“So, we closed the roads while others were throwing stones at the officers who started firing tear gas canisters at us,” said one of the eyewitnesses.
Meanwhile, Minibus Association of Malawi Secretary, Coaxley Kamanga, has demanded that justice should prevail
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