Concerned Citizens Disowns Kamangirah Sentiments On Murekezi Petition

The Malawi Concerned Citizens, group calling for the extradition of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide Convict, Mr. Vincent Murekezi, has reiterated their stand and distance themselves from sentiments that they have withdrawn their participation and involvement on this matter.

Mr. Philip Kamangirah who has been leading the group, told journalists last week that they have withdrawn the petition sent to Parliament and any matter pursued in relation to Murekezi arrest and extradition as they have gotten new evidence which proves that Murekezi is innocent.

Mundango Nyirenda 

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Lilongwe, however, Mr. Mundango Nyirenda who has now taken leadership of the group distanced the group from Kamangirah sentiments by reiterating their demands that Murekezi must be extradited back to Rwanda and to let the due process of the law take its course “and if he is innocent the court in Rwanda will discharge him.”

“As the genuine Concerned Citizens, we still stand by what we said that the Malawi government should extradite one Vincent Murekezi back to his country where he will exonerated if he is innocent.” said Nyirenda who was accompanied by another group leader, activists, Mr. Willard Mhone

“We would also like to put the record straight that never at any moment have we withdrawn our demands and petition from Parliament to have this dangerous fugitive extradited” he added with assurance that “We are still intact as a group” but disclosed that “it is only Mr. Kamangirah who has withdrawn from this group.”

Nyirenda explained that their former leader went ahead to make announcement of the withdrawal of their demands without consulting “the genuine Concerned Citizens” of his intention of withdrawing in the matter.

He accused Kamangirah for acting behind their backs and described his action as one “driven by greed and hunger for quick monetary gains” saying sketchy information in the group possession indicates that his suspicious withdrawal from the matter came after pocketing K3 million which is part payment of total sum of K15 million from a well-known business man who is a close associate of Murekezi.

“It is believed that Mr. Kamangirah, driven by his usual greed, approached one of the well-known business person who is a close associate of the fugitive, to hoodwink patriotic Malawians that the petition has been withdrawn.” asserted Nyirenda and further hinted that the unnamed businessman “is a preacher.”

“The truth of the matter is that the status quo remains that Murekezi who is in lawful custody, should be extradited back to his native Rwanda to answer charges of the heinous crimes that he committed in 1994.” He said

The Concerned Citizens have been calling for the arrest and extradition of Murekezi through press conferences and petition which was sent to Parliament when media investigations revealed that Vincent Murekezi who is listed as one of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide Convict is walking freely in Malawi and was issued two Malawian passports where one of the passports Murekezi gave false information that he is Vincent Banda from Tanzania. The investigations further revealed that Murekezi also used dubious means to get a gun.

Kamangirah (send from left) at Parliament presenting petition
before he left the Concerned Citizens
to his right Willard Mhone and Mundango reading petition

“We took these actions based on information and evidence provided to us by the Rwandan government through the National Prosecution Authority Director Mr. Faustin Nkuzi, which showed that Murekezi is genocide convict who was duly tried by the special court that was empowered to try all people who were involved in the 1994 genocide.” Explained Nyirenda

When making announcement of the withdrawal from the matter last week, Kamangirah was flanked by Fryson Chodzi, Bright Kampaundi and Chikumbutso Mtumodzi people who are completely alien to the original Concerned Citizens grouping.

Kamangirah 

During the briefing Kamangirah told journalists that the Concerned Citizens have withdrawn their petition and any involvement after concluding that this matter has political influence and that it is a scheme by some Rwandan nationals who are business partners of Murekezi who want to use Malawi as a battle ground to settle their differences.

He further claimed that their new investigations after consulting the Genocide Tribunal Office in Arusha, Tanzania discovered that Vincent Murekezi does not appear among the 95 listed names indicted on genocide.

Mr. Murekezi is now in custody waiting for extradition process following his arrest early this month by Malawi Police. During court appearance, Senior Assistant Chief State Advocate, Steve Kayuni told the Lilongwe Magistrate Court that Murekezi has been wanted by Malawi Government charges of corruption dating back to 2008 involving Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) but jumped bail and fled to Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile a high level Rwandan Government delegation was in the country to discuss process of extradition of Murekezi and the delegation has sent all evidence of the fugitive offender through Foreign Affairs ministry which touches on serious allegations of genocide.