There has been mixed response from the Laudium community, after news broke of the killing of two Malawian nationals who were shot in Laudium last Friday night (Sept 5) at around 10:30pm.
The foreign nationals from Bengal Street, Clifford Msusa (35) and Bright Sayenda (33), were shot by unknown individuals on Military Road, between 19th Avenue and Delhi Avenue in Laudium.
According to reports, Bright was shot and killed on the scene, while Clifford was rushed to hospital soon after the shooting, in a critical state and was pronounced dead the following
day. It is believed that those involved in the shooting wanted the pair dead, as according to a witness who visited the shooting scene thereafter, ‘it was as if the attack was carried out with military precision as number of bullets were fired at their car. According to some members from the community, both men were allegedly involved in drug dealings and were known as ‘street-level dealers.’ It is claimed that the shooting may have been linked to disputes with drug lords and connections to the local drug mafia, who seem to be increasing visibility in the area, under the nose of the local CPF and the police.
Rex Kachingwe of Bengal Street, the brother of Clifford told the Laudium Sun, “It was a very sad day for us as I lost my brother, Cliff. Cliff and his friend Bright were leaving Laudium in their car and passing along Military Road at around 10:30 pm when another car suddenly pulled up and at random certain guys started shooting at them. My brother and his friend were shot badly. Bright died on the spot, while my brother was rushed to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. This was a terrible tragedy. My brother was innocent and we don’t know why the shooting happened. We strongly deny the allegations made by some in the community claiming that Cliff and Bright were involved in drugs. I knew my brother very well. He was a good human being and never took the wrong path. With all my heart, I reject the false claims being made against him and his friend.”
Salim Ghani, a resident of Bengal Street in Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “I heard about the shooting incident apparently involving some drug dealers who were killed on Military Road on Friday night. Our society is really going through tough times because of this ongoing drug problem. Law enforcement has failed us again and again and because of their failure, our community has become a place where criminals, drug lords and street vendors can operate openly, in broad daylight. There is no real law and order in our area and it is very sad. Over the past years, we have repeatedly seen drug dealers and street vendors being killed. Many of them are just young boys. As a community, we have failed to protect ourselves and this situation is deeply affecting us all.”
Samsoodin Dawood, also of Bengal Street, told the Laudium Sun, “I heard that the shooting incident on Friday night was to do with drugs, but I don’t know. However, it is a reality and really painful that drug dealers are taking over our community and more and more young children are becoming victims of drug-related issues. We urgently need strict laws in place. If action is not taken quickly, our community will fall apart and we are essentially surrendering it to drug lords and their kingpins. I have seen many families destroyed by drugs, with good, educated people who were supporting their families becoming victims of this crisis. The selling of drugs must be stopped in Laudium immediately, because if doesn’t, we are going to lose our children and the future generation of this community. What many drug lords, especially those of Indian descent, fail to realize is that while they claim to be selling to support their families, they are destroying our community. Many of the street-level vendors distributing drugs are from foreign countries and their actions are turning Laudium, a once peaceful community, into a dangerous place. This must stop.”
The pair was buried according to Muslim rights on Sunday.