News Africa

Step-son of Malawi’s ex-leader acquitted over migrant deaths

The step-son of Malawi’s ex-President Peter Mutharika has been acquitted of all charges in a case in which he was accused of human trafficking and aggravated manslaughter.

Tadikira Mafubza and seven other men were arrested in November 2022 after police said they were linked with the deaths of 29 suspected Ethiopian immigrants whose bodies were found in an unmarked mass grave.

Ex-President Mutharika said at the time he was shocked by the police action, saying his step-son was arrested without there being any evidence linking him to any crime.

After an ordeal lasting more than 19 months, Mr Mafubza and his co-accused were cleared following a full trial.

“We are pleased with the outcome,” Mr Mafubza’s lawyer said on Wednesday.

“To be honest, we saw it coming as the evidence [against our client] was disjointed.”

However, Dzikondianthu Malunda, an official for the Directorate of Public Prosecution, said the ruling had “come as a suprise”.

Mr Mafubza himself declined to comment on his aquittal as he left the courtroom on Wednesday, only stopping to pose for photographers’ pictures.

In October 2022, police found a grave filled with dozens of bodies in a forest in the northern district of Mzimba after young boys reportedly detected a foul smell.

The corpses were of boys and men believed to be Ethiopian migrants being trafficked to South Africa.

Malawi is a major trafficking route for migrants from Ethiopia and Somalia.

After police launched a search for Mr Mafubza, he handed himself over at their headquarters in the capital, Lilongwe.

The former governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) had described his arrest as a political witch-hunt against Mr Mutharika’s family and his supporters.

 

Source: bbc.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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