A high-ranking former Malawian Member of Parliament, Clement Chiwaya, has shot himself dead in an office in parliament.
Chiwaya, who was a wheelchair user after he contracted polio at the age of two, served as deputy speaker between 2014 and 2019.
In a note he left shortly before the shooting, he wrote about the dispute he had with parliamentary officials over the ownership of a specially adapted vehicle.
After stepping down as deputy speaker he began a process to allow him to buy the car provided by parliament that enabled him to drive despite his disability.
He paid for the vehicle but he accused parliament of failing to transfer ownership.
In a statement released after the death of the former member of parliament, the speaker’s office said that the matter was still in court.
Local media are reporting that Chiwaya entered the office of the clerk of parliament today, and shot himself with the clerk watching.
