Nachipanti victim speaks 17 years after family killings

Margaret Twalibu, who survived an attack by Jack Bandawe, known as Nachipanti, revealed 17 years later that she cannot forgive him for killing two family members and leaving her with permanent injuries. The October 2009 assault in Ndirande Township, Blantyre, left Twalibu with persistent headaches and impaired eyesight, affecting her health and daily life.

Twalibu was 16 when Bandawe killed her 18-year-old sister, Shira Twalibu, and her four-year-old nephew, Lakazi Mpasa, while she sustained serious head injuries. Her brother, Yusuf Twalibu, stated the family questions the case's handling, alleging Bandawe was a scapegoat for main perpetrators who were never held accountable. Bandawe was apprehended after a resident struck his knee with a stone, leading to his conviction for murder and attempted murder.

Bandawe received a death sentence in November 2010 for the 2009 killings and attempted murder, and a prior 14-year sentence for a 2008 assault. He was known for nocturnal home invasions, targeting households with absent men and using sharp objects. Bandawe confessed to sucking blood, claiming he was hired for K80,000 to collect human blood, which led to arrests of several individuals. However, in August 2012, three suspects were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

Why it mattersThe story details the lasting physical and emotional trauma experienced by Margaret Twalibu, a survivor of a brutal attack that resulted in the deaths of her sister and nephew.

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