BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR
Senior Chief Jubeki of Area 24 in Lilongwe says he will have no choice, but to advise his subjects not to report crime to police following the arrest and detention of one of his people June this year.
The emotionally-driven Jubeki told the reporter in an exclusive interview that he was very disturbed and confused with how the law-enforcers arrested and detained for months one Enekesi Bauleni Banda. The chief explained that Banda used to run a tailoring shop at Area 24 market before he met his fateful day, a day he will live to dread.
“While he was busy sewing, he received a lady customer who had brought a lace. This lady advised the tailor not to sew the lace until she brought its “lining”. The lady went and never returned,” Jubeki explained.
He added that for three months the woman did not come back to claim her cloth. However, Banda kept the lace intact hoping that one day his customer would show up.
At last she came demanding her lace because she would not have it sewn since she did not bring the “lining.”
“But the tailor asked the lady to pay him for keeping the lace for such long time. Instead of negotiating, the customer threatened Banda with unspecified action,” the chief said.
She left the lace and promised to bring someone who would rescue her from the tailor. A few hours later, the lady appeared with a man she introduced as her husband. The husband pleaded with the tailor to release the lace to the lady and that he would settle the bills later.
“He promised he would pay K300,” he recalled.
Dissatisfied, Banda asked the husband for a surety. This is when the said husband produced a plastic bag and handed it over to the tailor.
“Banda did not check the contents in the bag. At the fall of the day, he decided to see what lay inside the plastic bag he was made to keep. Lo and behold, there were car keys, identity card, and a driving licence. But what surprised Banda was that the face appearing on the id was of a certain man who had been killed by armed robbers previously,” Jubeki recounted.
His story was corroborated by Banda’s wife Staness Damiano who is living alone now at Area 24 (Ngwenya).
Damiano said it was his husband’s friends and the chief who had advised Banda to surrender the items to Area 24 Police who later detained him.
“The police detained him for three days. Then they granted him bail, but a few days later they called for him. We were told they (police) were under instructions not to release him until investigations are through,” narrated the seemingly-lacking and desperate Damiano.
Damiano also said she has been to different organizations over the issue, but salvation for her husband seems far from near.
Executive Director for Christian Agency of Responsible Democracy, Development and National Unity (CARDDENU) Pastor Moses Phiri confirmed to have received a complaint from the lady over the issue.
“We have been discussing this issue with other organizations. But as of now, I cannot say much on the progress,” said Phiri.
Lovemore Mwabumba from Police Headquarters in Lilongwe recently said the police would release Banda when investigations are through.
“Police has no reason to keep an innocent person. When investigations are through, he will surely be released,” he said.
The problem is that people want us to rush. But they should understand that investigations of such nature take. How do we know he is innocent as the chief is alleging?” asked.
But Jubeki challenged that he knows and can show the man who handed Banda the plastic bag that later came to be his gallows.
END
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