By Duncan Mlanjira
Two Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers are reported to have been shot dead by a fellow soldier, Corporal Robert Banya when they tried to dissuade him from shooting his former lover, another MDF female soldier.
The news, that has gone viral on social media and also reported by Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) online as breaking news, says the incident happened at Tsangano in Ntcheu where MDF soldiers are constructing the Tsangano-Neno-Mwanza road.
According to ZBS Online, MDF spokesperson Major Paul Chiphwanya, confirmed the incident and identified the victims as Corporal Keaton Mtambo and Corporal Gift Magombo.
It is reported that Corporal Robert Banya had a love affair with fellow female soldier and their relationship went sour over some disagreements and the woman wanted to terminate their affair.
Furious with this, Banya is reported to have been hostile and and violent towards the lady, who resorted to have reported him to the Police and was consequently arrested.
Upon his release, reports say, Banya went to Kamuzu Barracks and got unauthorized custody of an official pistol from his Military Police department and managed to sneak out of the barracks with it.
He proceeded straight to Tsangano where the lady and her fellow soldiers were working on the road with the intention to kill shoot shoot his former lover.
The victims, Banya’s fellow Military Police soldiers, are said to have have tried to talk to him against his intended actions and he instead drew the gun and shot them.
However, ZBS quotes Major Chiphwanya as saying the reasons for the killing are not yet known and that MDF has executed a manhunt for the suspect, who is reported to be at large since Friday.