8 killed, scores injured in stampede at Bingu stadium on Malawi 53rd Independence celebrations: CEDEP calls for ‘national day of mourning
Dozens of people have been injured and at least eight people killed after a stampede that occurred after police fired teargas at civilians as they tried to enter the Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in the capital Lilongwe on Thursday 6 July during the celebrations of Malawi 53 independence brom British colonial rule.
After the national service of worship at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in the morning Malawians were expected to be treated to a match between Nyasa Big Bullets and Silver Strikers football clubs later in the afternoon at BNS.
But police fired teargas at civilians after they failed to contain hundreds that tried to enter the stadium.
Hundreds of people rushed at one of the stadium gates, causing some to fall and be trampled underfoot. As well as the eight deaths, scores of people were seriously injured.
Activists and rights groups immediately condemned the act, saying the stampede could have been avoided.
Rights activist, Billy Mayaya, demanded for the firing of the Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service (MPS) Lexten Kachama for negligence.
He said: “The President must immediately fire the IG [Inspector General] to pave way for investigations. This is most unfortunate.”
Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) executive director, Gift Trapence, called for the “cancellation” of the Independence Day celebrations.
“You can’t continue celebrating when eight lives are lost. The celebrations should be postponed or cancelled altogether,” said Trapence.
According to Trapence, the stampede would have been avoided with calculative and effective planning.
“The Police should have planned well knowing that there would be people of different age groups coming to the stadium. It reflects very badly on us as a country that we still have a Police service that is not up to its task,” said Trapence.
He then called for government and the people of Malawi to hold “a national day of mourning” for the fallen lives.
Malawi is celebrating fifty-three years of independence from the Britons but—already—the commemoration has been marred with a lot of tumult with members of the opposition and activists concerned with why government was not open enough to reveal the budget for the celebrations.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Sorry to all family who lost be loved one.
RIP
In the past at Kamuzu stadium In Blantyre gates were opened around 3 am to avoid such things so please next time let authorities open the gates opened around 12 midnight
For God’s sake please stop referring to the failure “Kamuzu”!!! A tragedy has occurred. It’s not only about gates opened late. Mind you this is a new Stadium and people were excited to see it. And the stadium management so it fit to open the gates at their best time. If they publicized that gates will open at noon and people come at 7 am, should they be forced to do so? and why were people panicking when they know the stadium accommodates a whooping 40,000 people. I’ve been there twice and never has the stadium been filled to capacity.… Read more »
I am disappointed with our police services. Where are we going as a nation? Plan well to avoid the same tragedy in up coming events. Make this day special with good budgeting and transparency, let the people enjoy and make mother Malawi smile on her birthday. I wish we had a president who is not very bossy and someone humble enough to empathise with poor Malawi.
That the so called celebrations went on ahead in the face of eight dead and so many taken into hospital is not only a mark of disrespect to those who died but an insult to their families and a clear sign how insensitive the leadership of the country is to the ordinary person. Lack of DONGOSOLO is a virus running through government machinery. We have lost it all on law and order of Kamuzu’s golden times.
All the police officers involved in this stupid goofing, should emedietly be dismissed. To add more salt on the wound,most of the dead are defenseless children.what an amateur police we have in our country!!!! Cry my beloved mother malawi
Fire every one who was involved in the planning of this shit event at this stadium funded by China. If all the gates were opened way in advance there could have been smooth entry of people. The stupid organiser’s waited until a lot of people arrived and then what do you expect. ?
Every one who has been injured must be compasated. Funeral expenses must be paid by the government. Those who lost their loved ones must Olso be compasated.
Very very sad indeed. From what 8 know when it comes to accidents there is no way you can say if we could have done about this couldn’t have happened. Never these things have happened even with the so called professional police services. Pointing of fingers will never help. The Inspector General of Police, yes he is responsible cos he is the CEO of the police so everything rests on his shoulders be it good or bad. As for the celebrations I think we don’t have anything to celebrate about as a country. 53 yrs of Independence what difference has… Read more »
Where arever we heading as a country? People dying on the roads and at stadium. Shame shame shame. How do we afford to lose lives like that?