Police Did Their Job – Kampanikiza Slams Critics Over Dr. Bobe Murder Probe

Political commentator and social media influencer Gerald Chavez Kampanikiza has come out in defence of the Malawi Police Service following criticism over the decision to document and livestream suspects linked to the murder of Dr. Victoria Bobe during a crime scene reconstruction in Blantyre.

In a post shared on his Facebook page, Kampanikiza argued that while the public may not be privy to all details of the investigation, police procedures require that suspects are thoroughly questioned before being taken to scenes linked to a crime.

He explained that when police escort suspects back to a crime scene, it is usually after investigators have already obtained critical information needed to build the case. According to Kampanikiza, questions posed at the scene are often a repetition of what suspects have already disclosed during earlier interrogations.

Kampanikiza said the purpose of taking the suspects back to the locations linked to Dr. Bobe’s murder was to verify their statements, allow them to demonstrate how they accessed the premises, and reconstruct how the crime was carried out.

He added that the exercise was meant to strengthen the prosecution’s case by confirming the suspects’ involvement beyond reasonable doubt.

Kampanikiza further urged the public to acknowledge the efforts of the Malawi Police Service, praising officers for successfully arresting the suspects connected to the brutal killing of the KUHeS lecturer.

His remarks come amid sharp criticism from lawyer and political figure Sylvester Ayuba James, who earlier described the police action as “childish” and warned that livestreaming the suspects risked undermining the principle of presumption of innocence