Blantyre City Mayor Isaac Jomo Osman says he was left with no choice but to protect himself when a confrontation over a fuel queue turned ugly.
Osman has questioned why police officers allegedly watched as he confronted a British national at a filling station, saying he was surprised that a City Mayor could be openly disrespected over a fuel queue.
Osman was responding to allegations by Hassan Osman, who reported him to police over an alleged assault at Yanakis Speedys supermarket on Sunday night.
According to Osman, he went to the filling station after people started fighting over fuel, with the situation becoming so tense that roads were blocked.
He said he intervened to restore order and ensure motorists followed the queue.
The mayor says Hassan was among those he stopped from attempting to access fuel without following the queue.
He claims Hassan told him he had only come to buy something, but he refused to let him proceed because he feared his presence could cause the situation to become disorderly again.
Osman further alleges that Hassan offered him money to allow him to access fuel without following the queue, but says he rejected the offer.
He claims The situation later escalated after Hassan insulted him and asked, “Do you know me?”
Osman questioned why a person would insult a City Mayor in such circumstances, arguing that such behaviour would not be tolerated if someone travelled to the United Kingdom and similarly disrespected a mayor there.
He also questioned why police officers, who he says were present at the scene, did not intervene during the confrontation.
Osman said the alleged insults and lack of police intervention left him feeling that he had to protect himself.
“If I am not protected, I need to protect myself,” Osman said.
Hassan, however, maintains that he was assaulted by the mayor and has pressed charges.
He says CCTV cameras at the premises captured the confrontation, which he claims happened in the presence of police officers.
The Malawi Police Service has not publicly commented on the allegations.
Osman has questioned why police officers allegedly watched as he confronted a British national at a filling station, saying he was surprised that a City Mayor could be openly disrespected over a fuel queue.
Osman was responding to allegations by Hassan Osman, who reported him to police over an alleged assault at Yanakis Speedys supermarket on Sunday night.
According to Osman, he went to the filling station after people started fighting over fuel, with the situation becoming so tense that roads were blocked.
He said he intervened to restore order and ensure motorists followed the queue.
The mayor says Hassan was among those he stopped from attempting to access fuel without following the queue.
He claims Hassan told him he had only come to buy something, but he refused to let him proceed because he feared his presence could cause the situation to become disorderly again.
Osman further alleges that Hassan offered him money to allow him to access fuel without following the queue, but says he rejected the offer.
He claims The situation later escalated after Hassan insulted him and asked, “Do you know me?”
Osman questioned why a person would insult a City Mayor in such circumstances, arguing that such behaviour would not be tolerated if someone travelled to the United Kingdom and similarly disrespected a mayor there.
He also questioned why police officers, who he says were present at the scene, did not intervene during the confrontation.
Osman said the alleged insults and lack of police intervention left him feeling that he had to protect himself.
“If I am not protected, I need to protect myself,” Osman said.
Hassan, however, maintains that he was assaulted by the mayor and has pressed charges.
He says CCTV cameras at the premises captured the confrontation, which he claims happened in the presence of police officers.
The Malawi Police Service has not publicly commented on the allegations.
