By Chisomo Phiri
Malawi and Mozambique have launched investigations into the alleged assault of a Malawian truck driver Elasto Ngonyani by Mozambican police last week.
According to Malawi Consular General in Tete Happy Saka, the two countries have launched a probe to appreciate what exactly happened for the Mozambican law enforcers to manhandle Ngonyani who was on his way to South Africa.
On Monday, Saka met Mozambican consular general to Malawi Mr.Matusi following the incident which occurred at Zobue Boarder in Mozambique.
Saka said he had engaged the police commandant for Tete province who assured him to follow-up on the incident whose video clip went viral this week.
The video clip shows uniformed Mozambican police captured ruthlessly beating a defenceless Ngonyani and squeezing him to the truck’s tyres.
“Our High Commissioner to Malawi Wezi Moyo asked my office to follow up and I have engaged the relevant authorities in Tete on the issue.
“My counterpart, the Mozambican consular general in Malawi, also rushed to Zobue to get to the bottom of the issue. The matter is under control now,” said Saka.
Meanwhile, a recent medical report indicates that the 35-year-old truck driver may face challenges in working in the future due to sustained injuries.
The report from Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital(QECH) in Blantyre reveals lumbar sliding disc loin pain on the right side, scalp lacerations on the head, pain in the right knee, and pain in the left ankle with a few lacerations.
“The victim currently experiences severe headaches, general body pains, chest pains, shortness of breath, and numbness of the feet resulting from the assault,” says the medical report.
Ngonyani is however,calling on the Malawi government to employ diplomatic means to end police brutality on Mozambican roads, especially towards foreigners.
Malawi and Mozambique share borders and the two countries are close neighbors.
