Mzuzu Senior Resident Magistrate Godfrey Nyirenda has convicted Capital Oil Refining Industry (CORI) Northern Region Manager Anand Madivar for calling a human rights activist Happy Mhango a ‘dog’ in public.
The 32-year-old Indian national, Madivar, pleaded guilty to the charge of insulting a person. Magistrate Nyirenda is expected to give out the sentence in the afternoon.
Mzuzu police spokesperson, Paul Tembo said the incident happened at Kentam Mall in Mzuzu where the two were seeking services from a mobile phone operator. The suspect did not want to join the queue but rather to bypass everyone.
The development angered those who were on the queue and one of the renowned human rights activist Happy Mhango who was among the group of people on the queue told the Indian national to respect the people who had queued.
“Don’t bypass the queue please. We are all the same. Everyone is in hurry. If you want, you then need to ask for our permission. Not just going straight as if you have not found anyone here,” said Mhango.
While refusing to be on a queue, the Indian national called Mhango “a dog”.After being tipped about the development, police rushed to the scene and arrested the suspect.
Mhango is chairperson for Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) in the North.
