SHAME AS POLITICIAN KILLS HIMSELF OVER ELECTION

Malawi's Deputy minister for Local Government Geoffrey Kamanya killed himself in the wee hours of Thursday over suspected political disagreements with his colleagues in the People's Party.

Mr Kamanya failed to retain his parliamentary seat in the just ended elections.

His close friend and former deputy minister for Agriculture Ulemu Chilapondwa confirmed the death of his colleague.

Mr Chilapondwa said while the exact reasons behind Mr Kamanya's death were not immediately clear, a suicide note left behind indicated that they were political. 

Mr Chilapondwa said the fallen colleague left a suicide note that indicated his life was being threaten by two other politicians whose names were not mentioned.

Over 70 per cent of members of President Joyce Banda Cabinet have lost seats in parliament in a closely contested election, whose results were yet to be officially released by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).

Mr Chilapondwa said Mr Kamanya attended a People's Party meeting on Wednesday and at around 3am (local time) he received a telephone call from the latter's wife that he had shot himself dead.

Talking to the local media Thursday morning, Mr Chilapondwa indicated that Mr Kamanya gave reasons for his committing suicide in his note, and also asked President Banda to take care of his child.

"The death is in relation with politics. I cannot say more as police are the ones to disclose the contents of the letter after investigations," he said.

Police were yet confirm the cause of the death.

Malawians on May 20 voted for the new set of leaders in the tripartite elections. 

Africa review