By: Lloyd M’bwana
The management of the magnificent Simama Hotel which is situated opposite Lilongwe Community Ground in the Capital Lilongwe has disputed rumors and claims misguided individuals advanced that a girl went missing upon entering the premises.
The hotel management clarification comes after a day misguided Mchesi and Falls residents stormed the hotel premises on Monday, afternoon, November 23, stoning the building in a bid to force the security guards releasing the said missing girl.
The fracas started when two young girls made their way to the hotel exit allegedly claiming that their friend had walked into hotel premises unsupervised. The claim baffled and brought the attention of the head security and general manager.
Eventually, the mobs were outside the hotel which consequently the management alerted the police who came into the premises within five minutes to search for the missing girl. However, upon failure to find the missing girl, the police went further questioning the two girls who later confessed that there was no missing friend on the hotel premises but rather were sent by misguided individual to stir tension at the hotel out of jealousy and frustrations.
Addressing the news conference on Tuesday, November 24, at the hotel’s premises, Francis Simama, The Managing Director of Simama Group of Companies expressed sadness over the matter which scared customers due to the fracas over confusion and miss information which rendered the hotel minimal damage which the mob caused through stoning.
“We would like to express sadness over the incident which we don’t understand what prompted the two girls to lie against us that their friend was missing in our hotel. Suffice to say that, our policy is very clearly of no entry of minors to the hotel premises without supervision.
“The hotel has 56 CCTV cameras which are operational 24 hours which if the missing girl was in our premises, the police could find her as we allowed them to search the corners of the hotel. We are therefore, disappointed with some of the media outlets for broadcasting without any investigations or enquiries on the matter.
“I believe this is called sensational reporting which escalate the fracas on Monday. We also invite the media to do their thorough investigation on the matter. As of now we can’t not speculate with conclusion as to why these two girls lied against us as the matter is in the hands of the police who are doing their job”, said Simama, a son to Bishop Abraham Simama, the owner and chairperson of Simama Group of companies.
The Maravi Post later caught up with Kingsily Dandaula, Lilongwe Police Station Public Relations Officer whose office was handling the matter saying investigation were still underway to establish those who sent the two girls to lie against the hotel of a missing friend.
