Police fire teargas to angry demonstrators in Nkhotakota

Police in Nkhotakota have fired teargas to disburse people who marched to the district council’s offices demanding an explanation from authorities on what necessitated change of the sentencing date for 92 people arrested last week over their alleged involvement in illegal mining inside Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve.

According to reports, Nkhotakota magistrate court, which last week convicted 48 among the 92 suspects, was supposed to sentence those convicted today.

One of the protestors, Abdul Mangani argued that the change of the sentencing date, due to a yet to be communicated date, is a punishment to their relatives, hence the demonstrations.

Earlier, Nkhotakota police Public Relations Officer Paul Malimwe told us that the sentencing would not be done today due to other issues.

Source; Times 360 Malawi