By Investigative Desk
Following the conviction of five people and others in the Masambuka murder case, Malawi’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Dr. Steven Kayuni has disclosed that he is now considering going after high profile people implicated in the murder.
Former President and leader of Democratic Progressive Party Peter Mutharika and ex-Minister Hetherwick Ntaba are among high profile names that were mentioned during the court proceedings.
McDonald Masambuka, a 22-year-old man with albinism from Machinga, was murdered gruesomely for his body tissues. The police arrested 21 people, who included a Catholic priest, a police officer and a health worker.
During the trial, Mutharika and Ntaba were mentioned as the ones who sent them to commit the crime.
However, despite the stunning revelation, the police have not acted until Justice Dorothy NyaKaunda Kamanga on Monday on Monday convicted some of those involved in the murder.
NyaKaunda Kamanga had earlier wondered why Mutharika and Ntaba continued enjoying freedom despite being mentioned during the hearing of the case.
But in response to a questionnaire on what will be the direction of the case as regards Mutharika and his then advisor, Ntaba, Kayuni said his office will be making follow-ups on a direction to be taken.
Kayuni stated that his office will not have to wait for the law enforcement agencies to take action on the matter.
“Now that the judgment has been rendered, we shall be making follow-ups on directions therein. I can’t say we have to wait for investigations into the leads. It all depends on what investigations state or point at,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Youth and Society (YAS) have yet again challenged law enforcers to rise to the occasion and effect arrests on the former President and Dr. Ntaba.
CHRR Executive Director Michael Kaiyatsa expressed dismay with the reluctance of the law enforcement agencies to arrest the two.
“The allegations against these two are serious and it’s only right that they should be given the opportunity to have their names cleared through a judicial process,” said Kaiyatsa.
On the other hand, YAS Executive Director Charles Kajoloweka said his organization expects that the Director of Public Prosecutions will revisit the case and ensure that all those implicated are brought to book.
Kajoloweka emphasized that there should be no selective justice in the murder of Masambuka.
“They must clear themselves or the law must catch up with them because if we do not do so, it will be seen as if there are other people that are above the law or they are getting preferential treatment.
“There should be no preferential treatment of anyone in these serious criminal cases. Therefore, justice must be served and that those implicated including must be held accountable because that is what is expected,” he said.