Robert Chasowa

Robert Chasowa (March 20, 1986 – September 24, 2011) was a University of Malawi engineering student and political activist. Chasowa was the chair of a student activist group, Youth for Democracy (YFD). The YFD printed a weekly pro-democracy and anti-Bingu wa Mutharika administration newsletter called the Weekly Political Update that has circulation around the UNIMA campus. His mysterious death made international headlines but was ruled a suicide under the Bingu wa Mutharika administration. In October 2012, the results of a commission of inquiry led by President Joyce Banda's administration ruled his death as a murder.

Chasowa was the Vice-President of the 'Youth for Freedom and Democracy'. This pro-democracy group was responsible for publishing a weekly campus publication, the Weekly Political Update. This is a student run political newsletter at UNIMA published by activist group. WPU has made several allegations against the Mutharika administration. In a most recent publication, it alleged it had evidence linking Pres Bingu wa Mutharika and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to the arson attack of offices of the Institute for Policy Interaction (IPI) of activist Rafiq Hajat. Chasowa was also affiliated with the group, New Vision Youth Organization group that concerned itself with socioeconomic issues in Malawi and sought dialogue with the President.

Prior to his death he co-wrote a play "Semo" with Thlupego Chisiza (son of Dunduzu Chisiza Jr) that was critical of the governments human rights policies. The play was performed at Lions Theater in Blantyre by Chisiza and this led to Chisiza's arrest.

The week before his death, plain clothes police officers went to the Polytechnic University of Malawi, to question administrators on the existence of a political pressure group, YFD. The students called this move illegal and contrary to the Kampala Declaration which grants academic freedom. They arrested YFD members, including the President "Black Moses" who is still missing.

On Saturday, September 24, 2011, Chasowa was found dead at the Polytechnic campus with a deep cut on his head and lying in blood. Police have ruled his death a suicide. Police say that Chasowa jumped from a five-story building on September 24, 2011. Inspector General of Police Peter Mukhito noted that he was identified by the leader of the student group, "Black Moses", as the author and distributor of anti-government newsletters which prompted him to commit suicide due to fear. Police say he left a note stating he was killing himself because "politics are dangerous." His sister, family and activists however have noted that there says was a hole under his chin, and that the medical report reported no fractured limbs, only head injuries indicating wounds inconsistent with a fall from a 5 story building.

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