welcome

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION reports a lively time in the speculative world of the press, this time in the Malawi Nation from the pen of Bright Sonani today 4th July, 2007

The news item is extracted below, with our comments in response in italicized script.

Malawi Nation
Another Anglican official poisoned by BRIGHT SONANI (7/4/2007)

A parish secretary at Nkhotakota All Saints Cathedral of the Anglican Church, who was one of those on the forefront opposing the coming of the alleged pro-gay activities bishop Nicholas Henderson, mysteriously died on Sunday with a preliminary postmortem indicating he was allegedly poisoned using the same chemical which killed the late Reverend Rodney Hunter.

We are glad that Bright Sononai is nowadays changing his comments to an ‘alleged’ basis as there is absolutely no evidence anywhere of any pro-gay writing or speaking on the part of the Rev’d Nicholas Henderson – but it’s a good pejorative label to stick on someone you wish to character assassinate in these times of great tension in the Anglican Communion.

Hunter’s autopsy conducted by College of Medicine pathologist Charles Dzamalala indicated that the priest was poisoned by a substance containing two chemicals.

In the Hunter case it was actually claimed that three poisons ‘killed’ him and these ‘poisons’ have been named as an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, and an anti-depressant – all prescription drugs.

In an interview yesterday, Dzamalala said an autopsy on the body of the deceased, Michael Symon, indicates that the man was poisoned by a substance that killed Hunter.

If this is the case why did Michael Symon exhibit entirely different symptoms to Canon Hunter who was reported to have had stomach pains and ‘black’ vomiting. A ‘substance’ doesn’t indicate anything.

Dean of the cathedral Denis Kayamba in an interview also confirmed the death and said the matter has already been referred to Nkhotakota Police for investigations.

Denis Kayamba again – the now well-known suspended priest who is never far from poisoning allegations and disturbances in Nhkotakota.

"A pathologist, Dr. Dzamalala, said Symon’s [body was found] with poison similar to the one that killed Hunter and we are very suspicious [about] the situation.

Unfortunately it should be noted that although Dr Dzamala has a reputation for being ‘incompetent’ we need to know who is the ‘we’ he refers to, and who found the body, were the ‘poisons’ next to it and so on?

Now everyone who opposed Henderson is living in fear. We don’t know who to trust or who to eat with," said Kayamba.

Denis Kayamba is playing games here and stoking up unnecessary paranoia, as usual.

He said Symon started feeling unwell on Sunday morning at around 1 am and was rushed to Nkhotakota District Hospital where, after being examined, doctors said he had no problem.

Why did the doctors say he (Symon) had no problem if he was supposedly poisoned?

"He was all along complaining of chest pains and was admitted only to pass away at around 2.00 pm the same Sunday," said Kayamba.

Denis Kayamba yet again, describing what sounds like a heart attack and certainly nothing like Canon Hunter’s symptoms. Kayamba is consistently the accuser in these cases.

Dzamalala said results based on the autopsy findings, and not lab tests, have revealed similarities in the chemicals used on both Hunter and Symon.

We repeat where is the similarity, what are the chemicals and how if it has taken seven months in the Hunter case to discover what were the so-called poisons (chemicals) did it only take a few hours in this case?

He expressed concern with the revelation, saying: "Since both cases are similar, it smacks of something serious and this issue should not be left to the Anglican Church alone."

This is a subjective statement and lacks credibility, as both cases are not at all similar. Has this (Michael Symon) case actually been referred as a criminal police case or simply reported as a death to the police? We think it is the latter.

Coincidentally, the death of Symon came just a day before Dzamalala presented a final postmortem report on Hunter which was done at the Forensic Chemistry Laboratory in Pretoria, South Africa.

What is that supposed to mean, what conclusions are we meant to draw?

The report ruled out any possibilities of suicide or strangulation but explicitly said that Hunter was poisoned with a chemical containing two substances and died due to respiratory failure.

This is not what was previously stated in earlier reports about his death.

Nkhotakota Police officer-in-charge James Munthali said they have so far opened an alleged murder case file after the postmortem results.
"We have opened an alleged murder case because we are not yet sure whether he was poisoned or he had taken the poison by himself," said Munthali.

This speaks for itself – it is an ‘alleged’ not a confirmed murder case despite what has been said in the press. Further, and as above how is it possible for the Hunter case to take seven months to come to a conclusion (still not released) about what so-called ‘poisons’ were used and the Symon case has produced an instant analysis.

Also in Malawi we should note that the term ‘poison’ does not carry quite the same meaning as elsewhere in the English-speaking world. It might simply mean ‘unpleasant substance’ and is used freely and loosely.

He also confirmed that the Police have just received the postmortem results for Hunter whose case is already with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

These post mortem results should be released publicly and immediately. The case has been with the Director of Public Prosecutions for a long while on no evidence. What other ‘evidence’ could there possibly be than forensic evidence, so why has Leonard Mondoma been in a dangerous prison environment for the past seven months other than on Denis Kayamba’s ‘say so’? Mondoma’s death in prison is becoming a real possibility and who will be to blame then?

This newspaper article lacks credibility and consistency and cannot be considered to have contributed in an effective way to the debate, only to have exacerbated the situation.

Bright Sononai does however report, more or less accurately, on the recent constructive meeting between representatives of the Diocese of Lake Malawi, clergy and laity, and the new Dean of the Province of Central Africa to consider a way forward regarding the longstanding dispute over the election of the Rev’d Nicholas Henderson as bishop and the failure of the Court of Confirmation in response, all as reported in an earlier release of ANGLICAN-INFORMATION.

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