Protesters Stone Policeman To Death in Malawi

A Malawian Policeman met his untimely death on Tuesday after he was stoned during clashes between pro- and- anti-government protesters, the country’s police has said.

This comes ahead of President Peter Mutharika’s first meeting since a disputed election.

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A wave of protests over the May poll has gripped Malawi since May and Msundwe — a trading outpost west of the capital — has been a hotbed of demonstrations.

According to the country’s police spokesman, James Kadadzera who confirmed the incident, said the officer was killed by rioters and criminals.

“We have lost a police officer,” he said.

He added that he had been stoned to death and “killed by rioters and criminals this morning.”

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Anti-government protesters had blocked the main road in Msundwe to stop supporters of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party from travelling to Mutharika’s first rally in the city since his poll win.

An eyewitness, Ulemu Phiri told reporters that police fired teargas to disperse the protests but demonstrators “kept regrouping and they fought back with stones.”

“In the ensuing chaos, they cornered one policeman whom they stoned to death,” Phiri said.

Homeland Security Minister, Nicholas Dausi said some of the protesters had put up a roadblock, throwing stones and injuring people.

“Other road users called the police to come and rescue them. When the police arrived, they started stoning them to the extent that we have lost one police officer,” Dausi said.

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Security expert and retired brigadier Marcel Chirwa accused the police of getting embroiled in politics and applying strong-arm tactics.

At a rally in the city of Lilongwe, the stronghold of the country’s largest opposition, the Malawi Congress Party, Mutharika struck a conciliatory tone, urging the country to unite.

“This is our country. Let’s not burn it down,” Mutharika said.

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