A British national says a routine stop for water at a Blantyre petrol station ended with him filing an assault complaint against City Mayor Isaac Jomo Osman.
Hassan Osman alleges that the mayor confronted him at Yanakis Speedys supermarket, also described as a petrol station, on Sunday evening around 9pm.
According to Hassan, he had parked his vehicle in the designated car park and was heading into the shop when the mayor approached him, shouting and swearing in Chichewa.
He claims the mayor accused him of jumping the fuel queue and told him he would not allow him to enter the shop.
“I was punched in the face with both his hands and forced over my car,” Hassan said, adding that his vehicle had already been filled with fuel.
Hassan says CCTV cameras at the premises captured the confrontation, which he claims happened in public and in the presence of police officers.
He has since reported the matter to the police and pressed charges of assault against the mayor. The Malawi Police Service has not yet publicly commented on the allegations.
The latest incident comes months after Osman was filmed during an anti-crime operation in May 2026, where he was seen physically and verbally confronting a woman accused of buying stolen goods.
That incident attracted criticism from the Malawi Human Rights Commission and other rights groups, before Osman later apologized and acknowledged that his conduct fell short of what was expected of a public official.
The new allegation has therefore brought renewed attention to the conduct of public officials and whether those holding public office should be held to the same standards of accountability as everyone else.
Hassan Osman alleges that the mayor confronted him at Yanakis Speedys supermarket, also described as a petrol station, on Sunday evening around 9pm.
According to Hassan, he had parked his vehicle in the designated car park and was heading into the shop when the mayor approached him, shouting and swearing in Chichewa.
He claims the mayor accused him of jumping the fuel queue and told him he would not allow him to enter the shop.
“I was punched in the face with both his hands and forced over my car,” Hassan said, adding that his vehicle had already been filled with fuel.
Hassan says CCTV cameras at the premises captured the confrontation, which he claims happened in public and in the presence of police officers.
He has since reported the matter to the police and pressed charges of assault against the mayor. The Malawi Police Service has not yet publicly commented on the allegations.
The latest incident comes months after Osman was filmed during an anti-crime operation in May 2026, where he was seen physically and verbally confronting a woman accused of buying stolen goods.
That incident attracted criticism from the Malawi Human Rights Commission and other rights groups, before Osman later apologized and acknowledged that his conduct fell short of what was expected of a public official.
The new allegation has therefore brought renewed attention to the conduct of public officials and whether those holding public office should be held to the same standards of accountability as everyone else.
