Malawi police find more bodies near mass grave that contained 25 Ethiopians
Lomani Mwanzini / Special to USA TODAY
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Originally published on May 1, 2013 2:05 pm
The mass grave in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where 25 people are believed to be missing is more than 60 miles outside the country’s capital.
The bodies lie with machetes stuck in the backs of their hands and throats. The graves tell a tale of violence that shocked the world.
A massive group of people in a small village in southern Malawi stopped on their way to work. When they were told to leave, they refused.
Police say that when they came to the village, they found a crowd of about 20 people, many of whom were armed with machetes and sticks. They say they fought over food. When they realized they were outnumbered, they killed one person each.
The police say that after the body was found, they searched every shack and house. They found the people hiding in basements, cupboards, behind shelves.
A police officer explains what they found.
The women were wearing traditional dresses. The men were wearing machetes and carrying sticks.
“It looks like they were trying to kill each other, but in reality there was no fight,” says Lt. Col. Nkalanga Kalongi.
But he says he was surprised by the numbers involved.
“I think there were more then 20 people,” he says.
The bodies were found after being buried about a week ago. They had not eaten for two days, Kalongi says.
“Why did they not bury them so that it would attract the authorities so they can be investigated,” he says.
Kalongi says they believe the people killed one another because they’re trying to escape an internal political struggle. They’re suspected members of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy or the MMD.
Malawi police say they have made clear who their priority is: MMD