Malawi Cables
In a shocking incident at Kamuzu International Airport, the Director General of National Intelligence Service (NIS), Pastor Dokani Ngwira, and his personal assistant, Dan Salimu, were reportedly assaulted by individuals believed to be affiliated with the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). The attack occurred yesterday as outgoing President Lazarus Chakwera returned from Dubai after attending the Sadaka summit.
According to eyewitness accounts, Ngwira was returning from the United Kingdom when the assailants confronted him and his assistant. The confrontation escalated, leaving Salimu’s suit torn to shreds. Police and army personnel present at the scene reportedly did nothing to intervene as the chaos unfolded.
Sources suggest the attack stemmed from a payment dispute. The assailants, allegedly hired by the NIS chief to attack unarmed protesters in Lilongwe during a recent anti-government demonstration, demanded compensation. The protesters had planned to voice their concerns about the Malawi Electoral Commission and the National Registration Bureau’s handling of voter registration ahead of the 2025 elections.
In a related incident, another group of MCP-affiliated individuals reportedly assaulted a party thug member, Nelson Kumchima in Area 24. Kumchima, described as a local thug leader among MCP supporters, was accused of embezzling MK 10 million. The funds, allegedly provided by Minister Chimwendo Banda to disrupt the Lilongwe demonstrations, were reportedly misused.
The incidents highlight growing tensions within the MCP and raise concerns about the use of violence in suppressing dissent. Authorities have yet to comment on the matter.
