Blantyre mayor admits pushing motorist at petrol station
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Nyasa Times
Blantyre Mayor Isaac Jomo Osman admits pushing a man during an altercation at a petrol station, but denies hitting him. He says he intervenes to prevent people jumping queues for fuel, while critics say law enforcement should be responsible for keeping order, Nyasa Times reports.
Blantyre Mayor Isaac Jomo Osman has acknowledged pushing a motorist at a petrol station in the city, while denying that he hit him, Nyasa Times reports. In a Facebook live video, he said he intervened in queues to prevent people jumping ahead and avoid disorder.
The footage, filmed at the Mount Pleasant TotalEnergies station, has reignited criticism of the mayor’s behaviour. Earlier this year, Osman was filmed slapping a woman and apologised for the incident. He says his interventions protect women and vulnerable people in particular, as motorists sometimes wait for hours to get fuel.
Consumer rights activist Wazamazama Katatu believes that maintaining order at stations should be the responsibility of law enforcement and has called for coordination with the police. Human rights activist Michael Kaiyatsa, meanwhile, asked whether the mayor had really changed his behaviour since apologising.
A motorist who was there before Osman arrived defended his intervention, saying at least seven queues had formed at the station, only two of them legitimate. The incident comes as the fuel shortage continues in Malawi, with consumers forced to spend the night at some stations.
