the assassin

[Published in the Malawi News of 20 August 2011]

05:47 am

They were guardedly locked shut and seated in the soundproof office. Though the past weeks similar gatherings had at times been sporadic and less intense, during the past three days they were daily and concentrated. And that day’s meeting had taken even longer. They all felt exhausted and silence ruled over them for seconds.

“Eh, well comrades,” Lino, the figurehead, who was the chief of staff, broke the silence in a throaty voice, rising from his seat. In case of the presidency falling vacant he would take over. Almost forty top presidential security personnel, nursing fatty ambitions, fixed their eyes on him.

“So far so good,” Lino continued, pointing at a fixed marked map, “Now, briefly, we’re saying, from around nine this morning the president stops at three places; this ground, where he’ll address a gathering; this motel here where he’ll hold dinner, before reaching this private chapel.

“Levi, you’ll be at this under-construction building,” he addressed the assassin now; the assassin coerced in by Lino’s kidnapping of his young brother. “You shoot the president as he gets out of the car and flee through passages marked X. Be swift before the perimeter, manned by some of us here, is sealed. Amikhe will be waiting in a stolen car around here, where you’ll drive off, abandon it, and walk away. If anything the whole operation takes 30 minutes. Is it clear?” he asked with finality.

“Yessir!” they chorused.

06:17 am

The group, except Levi and Lino, was cagily meeting again in the house of the deputy chief of staff, a shrewd and power hungry officer named Asilo, third in the presidency linage. In fact the meeting, as previous others, was there to plan how to eliminate Levi, Lino and the president. As fate might have it when the assassination plot was hatched Lino made one mistake which Asilo capitalized on. He never came out clear on how the others would benefit after becoming president, which created uncertainty. On the other hand, Asilo craftily produced a clear-cut beneficial pact and offered it to the juniors, which they received gladly. But it was a plan never shown to Levi. Asilo felt Levi was needless for they had planned to kill the president and Lino at the chapel where the president wanted privacy and only Lino would escort him inside. An officer called Vibula, who would be inside beforehand through the backdoor manned by security officials in the group, would shoot the President and Lino and flee. An officer called Patikalimbwe would be waiting in a stolen car close by. They would drive on a bushy road to another stolen car driven by Mary Sila and escape.

07:05 am

Levi, dressed in security uniform, was secretly driven to his position where he set his M24 sniper rifle and tensely waited. In his life he had never felt so nervous and scared. But for the sake of his brother, Levi waited, waited patiently for the motorcades’ sirens.

10:49 am

Then from a distance he heard them, heard the faint rushing footsteps. At first he ignored them. But as they drew closer shouts about him assassinating the president sliced his ears; the military sagacity instantly made him knew he was setup. He quickly abandoned the sniper rifle, drew out his Q52-92 semi-automatic pistol and started to run like mad, his heart fiercely racing.

11:11am

Levi broke his run, hiked to the motel premises, and quickly perused the vicinity. Nobody seemed interested in him. He marched on. Levi felt bitter with whosoever was behind the betrayal. Something told him not all might be involved but to him all were condemned. In such cases there would always be sacrifices. Levi sauntered on.

12:13pm

The president was stunned when Levi emerged pointing a pistol at him, signaling him to keep quiet. He felt wobbly and nervous but managed to challengingly look at Levi, who an hour earlier had managed to maneuver his way through and prayed fervently that the president should visit the VVIP toilet he professionally hid in. Then Levi confidently told the president everything, but excluded that he was there escaping a setup, but emphasized the possibility that he had of assassinating the president, but that his love for him had stopped him doing that. He then lowered the gun, handed it to the president who shakily took it. Levi walked challengingly away. The president first reaction was to shoot him but he felt drained and weak. Seconds later he was cautiously and rapidly making phone calls.

12:21pm

Everything happened too quickly for Lino and some others to understand; one moment everything was normal, the next one, blaring of ambulance sirens. Military men and doctors arrived and within minutes the president, feigning death, was carried away leaving pandemonium behind. And news that the president was strangled by Levi started to make rounds.

12:32pm

The president was confirmed dead upon arrival at the hospital. The sad news spread like bush fire. It was a nation in disorder and grief.

12:50hours

Matthews was released safely by expectant flamed Lino; seconds later Levi made a call and within minutes Lino, Asilo and the others were arrested.

The Epilogue…

Levi watched Matthews boisterously ride a bike. He felt contented that the love for his young brother had not only saved his brother’s life but also earned him the chief of staff position.