Another mysterious death in Malawi

*Update: See end of post for the man behind Anglican Information.

After the anonymous and odious ordure heaped into my inbox by supporters of Nick Henderson the last time I addressed this topic, I consider myself blessed still to be here. I also find myself courageous enough to dare to write about it again. Especially now I learn of another mysterious death in the strife-riven African diocese of Malawi. A friend sends me this: 'You have probably heard that Michael Symon was found dead in Nkhotakota, Malawi on Sunday evening. Initial medical reports indicate the method could have been the same as that used to murder Rodney Hunter last November. Michael was parish secretary and involved with Forward in Faith there and along with Rodney and Cathedral dean Dennis Kayamba was among the opposition to the appointment of Henderson.' Father Kayamba apparently fears he could be next. The final tests for Canon Hunter are being done this week in South Africa so there should be a final pathologists report soon. Michael leaves a wife and three young children (11,9 and 7). Tragic.

Meanwhile, this story is appearing in the Malawi Nation:

Another Anglican official poisoned
by BRIGHT  SONANI (7/4/2007)

A parish secretary at Nkhotakota All Saints Cathedral of the Anglican Church, who was one of those on the forefront opposing the coming of the alleged pro-gay activities bishop Nicholas Henderson, mysteriously died on Sunday with a preliminary postmortem indicating he was allegedly poisoned using the same chemical which killed the late Reverend Rodney Hunter.

Hunter’s autopsy conducted by College of Medicine pathologist Charles Dzamalala indicated that the priest was poisoned by a substance containing two chemicals.

In an interview yesterday, Dzamalala said an autopsy on the body of the deceased, Michael Symon, indicates that the man was poisoned by a substance that killed Hunter.

Symon was one of the five who swore affidavits on behalf of the other faithful of Lake Malawi Diocese opposing the coming of Henderson.

The Court of Confirmation later rejected Henderson.

Dean of the cathedral Denis Kayamba in an interview also confirmed the death and said the matter has already been referred to Nkhotakota Police for investigations.

"A pathologist, Dr. Dzamalala, said Symon’s [body was found] with poison similar to the one that killed Hunter and we are very suspicious [about] the situation. Now everyone who opposed Henderson is living in fear. We don’t know who to trust or who to eat with," said Kayamba.

He said Symon started feeling unwell on Sunday morning at around 1 am and was rushed to Nkhotakota District Hospital where, after being examined, doctors said he had no problem.

"He was all along complaining of chest pains and was admitted only to pass away at around 2.00 pm the same Sunday," said Kayamba.

Dzamalala said results based on the autopsy findings, and not lab tests, have revealed similarities in the chemicals used on both Hunter and Symon.

He expressed concern with the revelation, saying: "Since both cases are similar, it smacks of something serious and this issue should not be left to the Anglican Church alone."

Coincidentally, the death of Symon came just a day before Dzamalala presented a final postmortem report on Hunter which was done at the Forensic Chemistry Laboratory in Pretoria, South Africa.

The report ruled out any possibilities of suicide or strangulation but explicitly said that Hunter was poisoned with a chemical containing two substances and died due to respiratory failure.

Nkhotakota Police officer-in-charge James Munthali said they have so far opened an alleged murder case file after the postmortem results.

"We have opened an alleged murder case because we are not yet sure whether he was poisoned or he had taken the poison by himself," said Munthali.

He also confirmed that the Police have just received the postmortem results for Hunter whose case is already with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Symon’s death comes barely a week after leaders of the Lake Malawi Diocese met the Archbishop of Botswana Trevor Muwamba, who is also the Dean of the Central African Province, to discuss a way forward on the Henderson issue.

The meeting, held at St. Thomas Parish in Lilongwe, resolved that the Henderson issue be brought to the Anglican Provincial Court for it to make a final decision on whether Henderson should come to Malawi or not.

In November last year Canon Hunter was also found dead at his home in Nkhotakota.

He was an outspoken critic of plans to appoint the liberal Henderson as Bishop of Lake Malawi. Henderson, Vicar of St. Martin’s Acton West and All Saints’ Ealing Common in UK, was elected as Bishop of Lake Malawi in August, 2005.

Primate of Central Africa Bernard Malango could not be reached for comment on the latest developments, but in one of his interviews recently he said he was optimistic that the Henderson issue would be resolved soon."

That's the story. At the same time, it is incumbent upon me to point out that the anonymous group of supporters backing Nick Henderson has sent out the following, in which I am clearly blamed for the imprisonment of one of those under suspicion, even though he was arrested long before I even knew, let alone wrote about Canon Hunter's unfortunate demise!

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION states that it is unbelievable that once again Ruth Gledhill of the Times newspaper is prepared to submit the most serious of allegations without any evidence whatsoever.  The only common link in all her reporting is the name of the Rev’d Denis Kayamba who is the suspended Dean of All Saints Cathedral, Nkhotakota – Kayamba has a history of suspension for misdemeanours, including violence, going right back to the time of the late Bishop Peter Nyanja.  Whatever Ruth Gledhill claims about her sources it is the suspended Kayamba who made the allegations concerning the original case, after which two people were arrested – Bernard Mlota, now free on bail and the hapless Leonard Mondoma, in prison – and now again he is involved with Michael Saimon.

In the meantime, on the same basis (the say-so of Kayamba) Leonard Mondoma, Canon Hunter’s former loyal and faithful cook still languishes in a Malawian prison for supposedly murdering his only source of livelihood and with no evidence whatsoever.  The fact that he is still in prison seven months after Kayamba accused him and whilst official pathological reports (that are the only possible evidence against him) are still awaited, reinforces this point.

If there is to be another death under suspicious circumstances it might be that of Mondoma now suffering in terrible and dangerous conditions in prison.  Those who make accusations, without any evidence, other than the opinion of one suspended priest, are in danger of being complaisant in the tragedy and the subsequent outworking of false accusation.  It is not surprising therefore that ANGLICAN-INFORMATION has learned independently that Amnesty International are now taking an interest in this case of how innocent men have been mistreated and who has been responsible for their plight, including journalists.

That's the end of what Anglican Information are saying, for now at least. I await my pending interrogation by Amnesty International with interest.

(Note: In the light of the above, I have amended the headline of this post slightly. I do try to respond to criticism!) 

*Update: A friend has found out for me who owns Anglican Information, the anonymous group responsible for a series of emailshots taking my name in vain. My friend says:

'I just checked the domain http://anglican-information.org to see who owns it. It turns out to be someone called Paul Debois:

Quote:

Domain ID:D145851135-LROR
Domain Name:ANGLICAN-INFORMATION.ORG
Created On:12-May-2007 10:50:18 UTC
Expiration Date:12-May-2009 10:50:18 UTC
Sponsoring Registrar:Tucows Inc. (R11-LROR)
Status:TRANSFER PROHIBITED
Registrant ID:tu5L6iQgZexrgBdg
Registrant Name:Paul Debois
Registrant Organization:Paul Debois
Registrant Street1:** Birch Grove
Registrant Street2:West Acton
Registrant Street3:
Registrant City:London
Registrant State/Province:London
Registrant Postal Code:W39SN
Registrant Country:GB
Registrant Phone:+44.208752****
Registrant Phone Ext.:
Registrant FAX:
Registrant FAX Ext.:
Registrant Email:paul@pauldebois.com

Paul Debois has a website http://www.pauldebois.com and turns out to be a photographer (nice pics as well!) As you see, he gives his address in the domain registration as: ** Birch Grove, West Acton London W3 9SN (Precise number of his house deleted by me in accordance with journalistic practice.)

Nevertheless, just a few doors away, on the opposite side of the street, lives one Rev Nicholas Henderson, also of ** Birch Grove, West Acton, London  W3 9SP.'

Just fancy that!

Comments

[Chris Gillibrand]

"Or is everyone who disagrees with you ipso facto either evil or stupid?"

Well no. My identical twin brother is an Anglican vicar. I disagree with him but he is neither evil nor stupid.

I even said above I may be wrong!

[Fr. Malcolm French]

Chris said: "One rather suspects that the money (real or in prospect) supplied by aid projects (naturally supported by theological liberals who do not spend too much of their time on the prayers and devotions fostered by doctrinal religion) rather than bringing any present or future benefits has had its usual corrupting effect."

It takes a particular talent to create a straw man so very flimsy.

Has it ever occured to you, even conceptually, that those who disagree with you might simply disagree with you? Is it possible - just possible - that a sincere person of faith, looking to the same scriptures, considering the same tradition, praying to the same God and seeking the guidance of the same Spirit might sincerely and honestly come to different conclusions?

Or is everyone who disagrees with you ipso facto either evil or stupid?

[Sam Teasdale]

Ruth, You must have been distracted by the fact that the overwhelming majority of the 'articles' on the Anglican-Information website are all about Nicholas Henderson not being Bishop of Lake Malawi.

Particularly good is the one that describes his not being a bishop as 'a miscarriage of justice'!!! [http://anglican-information.org/twoarticles.html]

Compared to a real miscarriage of justice like the case of, say, Derek Bentley, who was executed in 1953 for a murder he did not commit and whose conviction was quashed in 1998, Fr Henderson's continued presence in West Acton is no more that a minor inconvenience. Still, it shows the standard of journalism to which the good folk at Anglican-Information will sink . . .

[Chris Gillibrand]

The case of Canon Rodney Hunter has moved me deeply. His Oxford college, Exeter College (also my own) has been for hundred of years the most conservative college theologically in the entire University. I was so lucky, all those years ago, to accidentally apply for a College with such a great tradition.

Members of the College were the first to go into exile for the Catholic Faith, including St Ralph Sherwin, the proto-martyr of the English College in Rome and even if members of the college did not become Catholics, many were leaders in the monarchist cause during the Civil War. Once I organized a Latin Mass for the Feast of St Ralph Sherwin – December 1st also All Saints of Oxford University- in Exeter College Chapel. I encountered enormous opposition not from the Anglican but from the Catholic authorities.

No College had more converts to Catholicism in the 19th century (by implication, it was also a centre for Anglo-Catholicism.). The 19th century chapel was modeled on Saint Chapelle in Paris.

This conservatism had its finest but sadly final flowering under the long chaplaincy of Eric Kemp, later Bishop of Chichester. Canon Hunter attended the college during the Kemp chaplaincy and was clearly deeply formed by the experience.

Whatever the outcome of the investigations into these two tragic deaths, I cannot begin to understand what the opponents of Canon Hunter are trying to prove. In the vale of tears that is this world, the pastoral care of the Malawians is being totally forgotten. One rather suspects that the money (real or in prospect) supplied by aid projects (naturally supported by theological liberals who do not spend too much of their time on the prayers and devotions fostered by doctrinal religion) rather than bringing any present or future benefits has had its usual corrupting effect. But I may be wrong!

I will remember the Canon in my prayers for the rest of my life. For this purpose, I have the prayer book of the Exeter College Chapel Guild, established by Eric Kemp, which doubtless Canon Hunter would have used as an undergraduate. The Guild, using the particular psalms used by College members since the foundation, is long forgotten.

In paradisum deducant te Angeli; in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Ierusalem. Chorus angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem.

May angels lead you into Paradise; may the martyrs receive you at your coming and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. May a choir of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, who once was poor, may you have eternal rest.

Floreat Exon!

PS
I should also say that when I worked for an MP in the House of Commons, I despaired of Amnesty International. They use to send case reports to MPs. From my point of view, again I could be wrong, as far as I can recall after the passage of years, they had in those days an inability to discern a true case of persecution from a made-up one. They diminish their effectiveness for the people that really need them by this lack of discernment, instanced by worrying about this case or indeed abortion rights. But maybe Amnesty’s name was being used without their permission. It would not be the first time.

[Mary Peterson]

You’ve done it again! You have jumped to conclusions without knowing the facts. The Anglican-Information website you refer to is exactly what it says it is - an archive of articles submitted by people living throughout the world, though mainly in England and Malawi. It was set up with the aim of correcting the misinformation that was being published about Malawi and in particular the diocese of Lake Malawi. I am acquainted with some of the people involved in its conception and am aware for a fact that the Rev’d Nicholas Henderson was asked if he would like to be a part of this new network, but that he declined the invitation. On a happier note – I am sure that Paul Debois will be very grateful for the free publicity regarding his photographic work.
(Mary, are you saying these are not the same people sending out the Anglican Information mailshots that I was referring to? rg)

[Sam Teasdale]

Apologies, Mary. I certainly wouldn't want to misrepresent what you said.

I wonder if you could remind us for what reason Fr Kayamaba is currently suspended?

[Mary Peterson]

Sam - you misunderstood my words. I was pointing out that Ruth's denial was valueless in that she stated she would not reveal her source, therefore even if I were correct in my assumption, she would say that I was incorrect. I never said that any information obtained from Rev'd Kayamba is valueless. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion regarding that subject. I would repeat, however, that he is curently under suspension from his position in the Diocese of Lake Malawi.

[Sam Teasdale]

It would be interesting to know precisely why Mary Peterson thinks information from Fr Kayamba would be 'valueless'. She'd no doubt say that he's a well-known troublemaker, or some such guff, but there are very many of us in the UK who know that he is a good and holy priest, who has suffered the most appalling persecution for no other reason than the fact that he is opposed to the revisionist
agenda espoused by some in the diocese, with support from overseas.

[Mary Peterson]

Further to my above postings, putting an article on this blog site from the Malawi Nation that is shot through with contradictions and discrepancies, is not a particuarly wise thing to do, especially if you, as a journalist wish to present accurate information. Anglican-Information has already mailed regarding the Nation Malawi article and I understand this will be coming out publically soon.

As for your comment about your source remaining anonymous, by default therefore you have to deny my suggestion that you are being fed information by Rev'd Kyamba, thus rendering it valueless.

(Yes I do deny it Mary, this information is not coming to me from Dennis Kayamba.)

[Mary Peterson]

It seems slightly unfair that I am expected to produce evidence to support what I say, when you don't. Nevertheless I will do my best to oblige.

[Mary Peterson]

Yet again you have posted a blog which is irresponsible in the extreme in that it will cause serious harm to Malawi and yet is solely based on third party information you have received from the suspended Dean of All Saints Cathedral, Rev’d Denis Kayamba. Already one person continues to be imprisoned with no evidence other than the word of Rev’d Kayamba, a fact that has now come to the attention of organisations such as Amnesty International. If your credibility is not to be ridiculed, I hope you have the decency to produce some hard evidence to substantiate these claims.

(rg writes: a journalist does disclose sources, Mary, but it is a false assumption of yours that this latest information came from Dennis. If you can give me evidence that contradicts this story, I would be delighted to publish it.)