BLANTYRE—Friends of dead student activist Robert Chasowa have challenged Pres Joyce Banda to tell the country the findings of a commission of inquiry she appointed to investigate the death.

“I am pretty aware that the commission of inquiry presented the findings to President Banda who promised the nation nothing but the truth and bringing to book individuals who murdered Chasowa, an innocent person,” said Alex Black Moses, president of Youth Freedom and Democracy (YFD).

Fourth-year student Chasowa, a critic of the erstwhile Mutharika regime, was found dead on a pavement of his college campus over a year ago.

After the incident, then police chief Peter Mukhito quickly said it was suicide but an autopsy by College of Medicine in Blantyre showed Chasowa died from assault to his head inflicted by a blunt instrument or instruments rather than a fall as was earlier claimed by the police. Mukhito had claimed Chasowa had jumped to his death from a building.

Pres Bingu wa Mutharika had promised an inquiry into the death but nothing happened until the president’s sudden death in April this year.

Soon after assuming office, Pres Banda said she’d get to the bottom of it and she appointed a commission of inquiry.

Speaking on Saturday during the candle light vigil YFD organized to commemorate the first anniversary of “the life of our hero Chasowa, a victim of police brutality,” Black Moses said the truth must come out.

“We ask the government, especially the president to walk the talk in ensuring that the public is told the truth about what happened to Chasowa and that the culprits are brought to justice,” Black Moses said.

There’s belief that Chasowa was attacked by thugs sent by the then ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Black Moses charges that some senior police officers and State House security personnel (names withheld) were involved and that they know the people who murdered the Polytechnic student.

“Why should the outcome take ages; we know the people who murdered Chasowa. We will not sit down and watch the commission of inquiry die a natural death,” said YFD president.

Some months ago, the police nabbed Geoffrey Bottoman, 30, and Peter Petros Tembo, 30, on allegation they took part in the murder of Chasowa, who was the vice president of YFD.

YFD president retaliated that Chasowa’s assailants used a blue Toyota Runix registration number MHG 2353 and the owner of was Arnold Sanudi at the time of Chasowa’s death.

“YFD will continue to fight for the truth,” he added.

Before Chasowa's death, YFD was the publisher of a critical newsletter and Black Moses, once jailed by the Mutharika administration, said they will continue to publish the newsletter.

“We are observing what is happening and we will bring in open the ills of PP-led government,” he alerted.

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(c) The Maravi Post 2012. Reproduction without acknowledgement prohibited.

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