Lake Party Tragedy: Malawi Police Set Record Straight on Salima Death, Dismiss Social Media Claims

The death of 22-year-old Abdul Aziz Panjwani in Salima has been widely misrepresented online, with unverified social media posts and petitions on Change.org pushing what the Police in the lake shore district describe as a misleading narrative.

According to the authorities, the events began at a birthday party held at WheelHouse Cottage in the lakeshore district, where two groups of young men had gathered. Music played through a Bluetooth speaker, and as the night progressed, a minor disagreement arose over the device, largely involving some who had been drinking while others remained sober. To avoid further tension, the other group decided to leave the venue and drove off, distancing themselves from the situation.

After travelling a short distance, one of them realized he had left his phone behind, where it had been charging in the bar at the cottage premises, prompting them to return. Upon arrival, only one person got out of the car to retrieve the phone, while the rest remained inside. 

As he returned to the car, members of the other group, including Abdul Aziz Panjwani and his friends, followed him toward the car park area. It was here that tensions escalated and a fight broke out at the car between Abdul Aziz Panjwani and the driver.

In the course of the struggle, Abdul Aziz Panjwani is said to have jumped onto the moving vehicle while the driver attempted to leave the scene following a gun shot an unknown person fired in the air. In the confusion, Panjwani was struck by the moving vehicle during the incident and later sustained fatal injuries.

An eye witness at the Cottage said the matter was reported to police, who attended the scene and conducted investigations. The driver was taken to police by his father, detained, and is currently awaiting to be charged. He is on remand at Maula prison. The other occupants of the vehicle were interviewed and released after giving statements, as no evidence linked them to any criminal conduct.

Despite this, petitions circulating on Change.org are calling for the arrest of all individuals alleged to have been present, while social media posts continue to suggest a coordinated or deliberate killing. Police have dismissed these claims, emphasizing that in Malawi, arrests are based on evidence and individual responsibility, not association or public pressure.

“The law does not permit the arrest of passengers in the absence of wrongdoing, and to do so would be unlawful,” said a police spokesperson.

Authorities have also expressed concern over the circulation of names and images of individuals not charged with any offence, warning that such actions risk harming innocent people. They stress that the Malawi Police Service is guided by the law and cannot be directed by online campaigns or external voices. Investigations remain ongoing, including efforts to establish the full circumstances of the incident and any related firearm discharge, but officials insist that justice will follow the facts, not misinformation.