Mzuzu, September 12: Councillor for Chibanja West Ward in Mzuzu City has been beaten to death after he was caught red handed with somebody’s divorced wife in Chibanja Township in Mzuzu.
Charles Nyirongo, who won the May 20 tripartite election on People’s Party (PP) ticket, is reported to have been beaten to death Wednesday around 8:00 O`clock in the evening.
Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana), the uncle to the deceased, Tedson Mtegha, said late Charles Nyirongo was pronounced dead in the early hours of Thursday at Mzuzu Central Hospital after losing a lot of blood.
According to Mtegha, Nyirongo sustained severe injuries in the back and head that left him unconscious before he was rushed to the hospital.
“ We are deeply shocked with his death, the man was development minded even before he became a Ward Councillor, he has done a lot in this area,” said Mtegha.
Mtegha disclosed that the late Nyirongo had been on secret relationship with Bellita Mbewe for some months after it was allegedly reported that she and her husband, Sangwani Kapindanani Chirambo, had divorced.
The two had one child with each other and according to reports, Chirambo was still relating with his former wife Bellita Mbewe.
On the day of his fate, Councillor Nyirongo was at Mbewe’s house where the divorced husband found him after being tipped. The latter got angry and started beating the deceased severely despite the fact that he and Bellita Mbewe (who had harboured the deceased), had divorced.
Nyirongo’s death comes barely a month before Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC)’s scheduled by-elections in some constituencies and wards that fell vacant after the death of some aspirants and other challenges.
Meanwhile, Police Spokes Person for Mzuzu, Sergeant Maurice Chapola has confirmed the death of Chibanja West Ward Councillor Charles Nyirongo.
“Yes I can confirm the untimely death of Charles Nyirongo who was beaten on Wednesday in Chibanja Township by 48 year old Sangwani Kapanganani Chirambo, who is claiming that 32 year old Bellita Mbewe is his wife,” said Chapola.
Chapola both the suspects, Sangwani Kapanganani Chirambo and the lady Bellita Mbewe are in police custody waiting to appear before the court of law to answer the charges of causing death.
Meanwhile, the body of late Charles Nyirongo is at Mzuzu Central Hospital mortuary waiting for burial arrangements by his relatives.
Nyirongo 42, hailed from Sonkho Mvula Village in the area of Inkosi Chindi in Mzimba. He is survived by a wife and four children.
The suspect, Sangwani Kapanganani Chirambo, hails from Gwazamo Village in the area of Inkosi Mtwalo in the same district (Mzimba) while Bellita Mbewe comes from Pindikani Village in the area of Traditional Authority Lundu in Blantyre.
At the time of writing this report, postmortem had not yet been conducted.
