By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu Civil Society Network has condemned the brutal killing of a police officer in the district, describing it as backward and cowardly conduct which has no room in a democracy.
On 30 December, a mob at Mpasazi Scheme in Traditional Authority Mnyanja in Kasungu brutally murdered Sub-Inspector Cosmas Beseni of Chatoloma Police Unit with a Panga knife and other objects, leaving him in a pool of blood.
Beseni was on duty, assigned to ensure that peace and order prevail at the scheme where there were conflicts related to land matters.
Speaking Wednesday in an interview , the network’s chairperson Braxton Banda said what happened at Mpasazi is high grade barbarism and lawlessness which should not be happening in an era of human rights.
Banda said: “We condemn the killing of Sub-Inspector Beseni in strongest terms. It is a shameful and unfortunate incident that we cannot condone.
“We call upon the law enforcers to be on top of their job and see to it that investigations are speedy and that all suspects are brought to face the law in court.”
According to Banda, Kasungu district is entrapped in many land wrangles which he said can best be handled through dialogue.
“The best approach to deal with the many land issues in the district is to encourage dialogue and engagement. Anything outside the laid procedures for handling complaints is utter lawlessness which we also condemn.
“By taking the law in our own hands, we are not solving any problem. By doing that, we are creating more trouble for ourselves. Let the aggrieved parties seek court redress if there are misunderstandings or still, they can report to community policing structures available in their community,” he said.
Asked if there have been any arrests made so far, Public Relations Officer for Central East Police Region, Esther Mkwanda, said the police will make a statement once the investigations are completed.
National Police publicist Peter Kalaya said the law will take its course on the people involved in the incident.
