Tag Archives: Tambala family

Law and order, Malawi

Malawi High Court to visit 2020 UTM office arson attack’ scene

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi High Court seating in Lilongwe is today, Wednesday, April 27, 2022 expected to visit the UTM office arson scene in Area 24 to accord witnesses a chance to testify right from the crime scene of the 2020 attack.

On Tuesday, the state paraded two witnesses, William Banda, a block leader in Area 24 and Hamilton Bester who told the court that the attack back in 2020 was meticulously planned and executed by a group called Kattar following several meetings.

Area 24 UTM office torching

Former United Democratic Front (UDF) Spokesperson Ken Ndanga was mentioned in the court bankrolling the gang that petrol bombed the office killing three members of the family who were living inside.

He said the group comprised more than 20 members who were given cash and cellular phones for communication.

After examination in chief, Hamilton was cross-examined by defence lawyers and today, he will be re-examined by his State lawyers.

A total of seven suspects are appearing before the court, while Mussa Dyton, a Democratic Progressive Party DPP official was acquitted of the same case.

According to Justice Anabel Mtalimanja, the State failed to provide substantial evidence of his involvement.

The Area 24 UTM office was torched on April 5, 2020 and three members of the Tambala family who were residing in the building died in the inferno.

Law and order, Malawi

UDF’s Ken Ndanga bankrolled gang to petrol bomb Area 24′ three family members

Lloyd M’bwana

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-A state witness on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 in Lilongwe told Malawi High court that former United Democratic Front (UDF) spokesperson Ken Ndanga gave cash and cellphones to petrol bomb UTM office that killed three members of the same family in 2020 at Area 24 in the city.

The witness testified in a case in which Ndanga and other suspects are accused of torching UTM Party building while killing three members of the Tambala family weeks before the 2020 presidential elections.

Ken Ndanga in court for murder charges

According to the witness Hamilton Bester, Ndanga facilitated logistics for the crime as he provided transport and accommodation as well as money and phones to the gang called Kattar.

The gang had twenty members, including seven who are on trial. The others are reportedly on the run.

Bester said preparations for the arson took place at Area 28 at Kaphiri, until the wee hours of day of the arson, 5 May, 2020.

The witness added that people who became afraid of carrying out the criminal activity were intimidated. According to Bester, he did not take part because he was told to go home.

At Area 24, the Tambala family used to reside in a building which is an office for UTM, the party which Vice President Saulos Chilima leads.

Previously, the building used to be a UDF office but it was painted with UTM colours after a politician dumped UDF for UTM.

In the early hours of 5 May, 2020, the building was petrol-bombed and members of the Tambala family suffered burns.

They were taken to Kamuzu Central Hospital where Seleman Tambala, his wife Ayiles Tambala and 11-year-old son Shukran died.

At the time the crime was committed, Ndanga was spokesperson of the UDF but was fired after he was arrested over the crime.

Cross-examination second witness by the defence team continued telling the court that he went ahead to participate in the crime’s logistics because the members were intimidated and forced against withdrawing.

He has also told the court that he saw gallons filled with fuel, and a two-tonne full of tyres, suspected to be the ones used in the arson.

The defence is grilling the witness on some details which he presented earlier in the court.