Ben Phiri assault may involve DPP: Police IG says investigations still underway

Malawi Police has said investigations into the assault in Blantyre of Ben Phiri, personal assistant to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Peter Mutharika, is still underway and that his party may be involved.

Phiri alleged to have been assaulted by a group of 15 men led by a man he identified as People’s Party (PP) director of youth Lemani Chapitapansi.

Mutharika accused the PP of trying to “kill” Phiri who is also DPP director of operations.

He said DPP submitted to police names of “those involved in abducting” Phiri but there has been police inaction.

But Inspector General of Police, Loti Dzonzi said the investigations are targeting many people and the Police “have to attach evidence” to the suspected names.

PP deputy publicity secretary Ken Msonda said Phiri’s assault may have been an inside DPP job, citing an incident when bodyguards for Mutharika manhandled the party’s deputy spokesperson Bon Kalindo at Mutharika’s Area 10 residence in Lilongwe recently.

Phiri confirmed the attack, saying there was nothing political about it but that the incident resulted from personal disagreements between Kalindo and the bodyguards.

Kalindo is also DPP’s shadow parliamentarian for Mulanje South.

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