MALAWI POLICE ARREST SOUTH AFRICAN WHOSE DOGS MAULED GUARD

Malawi President Bingu Wamutharika angry with dog attack

Police in the Malawi city of Lilongwe have arrested Dean Van Schalhwl, a South African national, whose five vicious dogs severely attacked his guard, 72-year-old Cephas Chimdima.

The dogs attacked Chimdima, who is heavily maimed, on the night of Wednesday when he was reporting for duties at the Schalhwls, savagely tearing-off his nose, one ear and other body parts.

According to Central Region Police Spokesperson John Namalenga, who confirmed the arrest, Van Schalhwl is expected to appear in court soon to answer charges of keeping dangerous animals uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, there is anger in Malawi after the South African national connived with a hospital official to illegally obtain HIV status details of his guard to find out if the dogs did not contract HIV from the blood of the Malawian guard, who is admitted at Kamuzu Central Hospital.

The country’s Minister of Persons with Disability and the Elderly, Reen Kachere, and her counterpart Minister of Labour Yunus Mussa, who visited Chimdima at the hospital, also condemned the conduct.

Records at the hospital indicate that the HIV test was, indeed, conducted a development the Human Rights Consultative Committee strongly condemns.

“It is equally demeaning to human rights and human value. The implication is; assuming the dogs are indeed HIV positive, would the Van Schalhwl family put the dogs on ARVs?” asked the HRCC National Coordinator Mabvuto Bamusi.

According to reports reaching Nyasa Times, the HRCC is scheduled to conduct “a peaceful demonstration” on Monday to demand justice on a forced HIV test conducted on the man. The demonstration will start from City Centre, outside Pacific Hotel at 10:30am.

Chimdima, who comes from Yelisa village, Traditional Authority Chakhaza in Dowa district said he had worked for the Schalhwls as a guard for five years and did not understand why the attacks came now.

Meanwhile Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika on Friday made a rare outburst condemning foreign nationals who ill-treat citizens in their country.

A visibly angry Mutharika speaking on his departure for an African summit in Uganda said he won’t tolerate foreigners treating Malawians “worse than dogs”  after police arrested Dean Van Schalhwl whose five vicious dogs severely attacked his guard, 72-year-old Cephas Chimdima.

The dogs attacked Chimdima, who is heavily maimed, on the night of Wednesday when he was reporting for duties at the Schalhwls residence, savagely tearing-off his nose, one ear and other body parts.

“I won’t accept foreigners to come here and treat Malawians worse than dogs,” said President Mutharika.

“I don’t have room for white people treating Malawians like dogs,” he added

President Mutharika described Malawi as “a black country for black people.”

The white man who is believed to be South African national is also reported to have connived with a hospital official to illegally obtain HIV status details of his guard to find out if the dogs did not contract HIV/Aid from the blood of the Malawian guard.

“This man was acting as if the dogs had bitten a snake,” said President Mutharika.

The 72 year-old Malawian is admitted at Kamuzu Central Hospital

Courtesy of Nyasatimes