Malawi on Thursday launched a probe into the mysterious death of a top assistant to former President Bakili Muluzi, authorities have said. The inquiry into the death of Muluzi’s Chief Economics Advisor, Precious Kalonga Stambuli, comes six years after the mysterious death of the 40-year-old top economist.
President Bingu wa Mutharika set up the inquiry following complaints from Kalonga’s mother, relatives and associates who suspect foul play.
“The commission of inquiry is inviting members of the general public who might have information and knowledge of what led to the death of Kalonga Stambuli to make oral or written submissions,” a statement issued Thursday said.
Prominent private lawyer Modecai Msisha is chairing the five-man commission which includes a senior Anglican cleric.
Stambuli was Muluzi Chief Economic Advisor until he fell out with his boss. He fled into exile to Malaysia, Finland and later the United Kingdom from where he wrote a damning expose cataloguing Muluzi’s alleged corrupt deals.
His dossier was widely circulated via the internet.
But Muluzi wooed him back to his team and made him Chief Executive of an investment bank which failed to kick off.
He was found strangled in his bedroom around Christmas 2003 with a note ‘You Are Very Sinful’ by his side.
According to conclusive postmortem results Stambuli died of asphyxia. Another report indicated that toxicological tests also showed that he was poisoned with an organophosphate compound, although he eventually died from manual strangulation, ruling out suicide.
