Machinga shooting victim released on bail

Report by Gloria Masanza. 

Police in Machinga have given bail to Yasin Makatoni, the man who was allegedly shot by deputy minister of industry and trade, Ellock Maotcha Banda.

This was confirmed by lawyer representing Makatoni, Jai Banda.

Makatoni was arrested last week, two days after being discharged from hospital, where he was admitted with gun wounds.

The victim sustained the wounds during a fracas that ensued at a registration exercise for beneficiaries of this yearʼs fertiliser subsidy programme, in Machinga East constituency.
At the moment Makatoni is living with a bullet on his neck, after hospital authories told him that the bullet could not be removed.

He was allegedly shot by Maotcha Banda after the people became violent having noticed that the number of beneficiaries in this yearʼs subsidy program had decreased.

However, Maotcha denied shooting the man, instead accused the people of looting his house, damaging his car and other property worthy over one million kwacha.
According to the lawyer, Makatoni was given bail together with the other people who were under arrest in connection with the scuffle.

At least 17 people were in police custody on suspicion that they took part in the violence.
Makatoni together with the other suspects are expected to appear before the court next month.
However, other sections of society have called on the police to investigate the alleged shooting of Makatoni and let the culprit be brought to justice.

Others have also asked president Bingu wa Mutharika to ensure that Maotcha Banda is silenced or be advised to tone down, since he has been involved in a number of violent acts, since he became member of parliament.
One of them is the Human Rights Consultative Committee-HRCC, which recently released a statement, which said that the deputy ministerʼs actions were not condoned in a democracy and as such should be removed from government or be advised to tone down.

The statement said the president could have good intentions by introducing the fertiliser subsidy programme and therefore should not let other people especially from his government, jeopardise it.