Malawi’s Ex-Dictator, Aides Acquitted of Ordering 4 Politicians’ Murders

Former dictator H. Kamuzu Banda and his former police minister were acquitted Saturday of ordering the murders of four dissident politicians 12 years ago.

The verdict was a blow to Malawi’s first democratically elected government in its attempts to bring one of Africa’s last old-style dictators to account for a brutal 30-year reign that saw thousands of opponents killed, jailed or sent into exile.

The seven-member jury took less than two hours to return not guilty verdicts on charges of conspiracy to commit murder against Banda, his longtime companion, Cecilia Kadzamira, former Police Minister John Tembo and three senior police officers.

They had been accused in the 1983 deaths of three Cabinet ministers and a member of parliament who opposed Banda’s policies. A commission of inquiry determined that the four politicians were beaten to death with hammers and clubs by a police hit squad and left in a car wreck to make the deaths look accidental.

As the verdict ending the five-month trial was read, scores of Banda supporters in the court and about 400 waiting outside cheered and ululated.

“You have heard the verdict. I cannot disagree with the jury. That means I acquit each one of you on all counts,” Judge Mackson Mkandawire told a smiling Tembo, Kadzamira and former police officers MacDonald Kalemba, Leston Likaomba and McWilliam Lunguzi.

Banda, in his 90s, was not in court to hear the ruling. He was ruled too senile and frail to appear alongside his longtime “hostess,” Kadzamira, and chief henchman, Tembo, when the trial began July 25.

Prosecutors claimed Friday that the judge all but ordered the jury to render an acquittal during his summation by telling the panel that evidence showing Banda was a dictator did not prove him a conspirator to murder.

Banda’s supporters at court, all members of his former ruling Malawi Congress Party, marched to his house and celebrated, singing and dancing outside the gates until Banda and Kadzamira joined them.