Three years on, Njewa still lives with scars of fatal shooting

Nearly three years after a deadly shooting claimed the lives of two Chinese businessmen in Njewa, Lilongwe, the community still carries the scars of that fateful night, as the murder and armed robbery case continues before the High Court.

The two businessmen were shot dead in October 2023 in circumstances that sent shockwaves through the area and raised questions about security in the community.

For residents, the case has not simply remained a matter for the courts. The passage of time has kept the incident in the community’s memory, with the latest court proceedings once again bringing attention to what happened nearly three years ago.

At the High Court’s Criminal Division in Lilongwe on Thursday, defence lawyers asked the court to dismiss the case involving eight accused persons, arguing that no State witness had testified in the current proceedings.

The State opposed the application, saying four witnesses had already testified since the trial began and that the evidence presented was sufficient for the case to continue.

The proceedings also highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the eighth accused, Precious Billiat. Justice Eddah Ngwira-Mwakibinga ordered that Billiat be brought before the court despite a discontinuance letter from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions in her favour.

For the Njewa community, however, the court proceedings are only one part of a story that began with the deaths of the two businessmen.

Residents have had to live with the memories of the incident while the legal process continues, with the latest hearing ending without a conclusion to the case.

The court has now scheduled October 1, 2, 5 and 6, 2026 for further hearings, when the State is expected to present additional evidence and comply with the order concerning Billiat.

As the case enters another phase, the Njewa community is left waiting for the final outcome of a case that has remained part of its story since that fatal night in 2023.