Federal Beaurea of Investigation (FBI) has identified the shooter who attempted to take the life of former United States of America (USA) president Donald Trump on Saturday afternoon at an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania,as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.
Following the attack, the assailant was shot dead by Secret Service Agents and recovered an AR-style rifle he used.
According to FBI investigation report,the attacker was stationed on the roof of a manufacturing plant that was more than 130 yards away from the stage where Trump was addressing the public at Butler Farm Show grounds.
Thomas Matthew Crooks
The report says British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reporter and other witnesses saw the shooter and turned their attention to local Police and Secret Service Agents to tell them about the shooter.
“The reporter said they kept yelling and calling out the agents about the shooter as he crawled on the roof and found a spot to shoot from.
“After the shooting, the witnesses directed law enforcement to the shooter.
“Shortly thereafter, a Secret Service Agent shot Crooks on the head,” reads the report.
Born on June 14,1946,Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has expressed its unwavering commitment to the Tonse Alliance, despite the UTM party’s decision to withdraw from the partnership with just one year to go before the next election.
The UTM Central Executive Committee announced on Friday that it has opted to abandon the alliance, citing a lack of future prospects.
However, this decision is still subject to endorsement by the party’s National Executive Committee.
In response,MCP Secretary General Eisenhower Mkaka described UTM’s departure as “regrettable” but emphasized that it does not signal the demise of the alliance.
Mkaka highlighted that several other parties remain dedicated to the Tonse partnership and are committed to its continued success.
Meanwhile,governance and human rights advocate Undule Mwakasungula has describe UTM’s decision to leave the Tonse Alliance as a misstep which will affect growth and stability of the party.
According to Mwakasungula UTM would have focused on rebranding under new leadership.
Tonse Alliance was formed by nine parties in the run-up to June 23,2020 court-ordered presidential elections to unseat president Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
The alliance managed to get 50+1 of the required votes.
United Transformation Movement (UTM) member and Minister of Tourism in the Tonse Alliance-led administration, Vera Kamtukule, says she is not ready to resign from her ministerial post despite her party exiting the Tonse Alliance partnership.
The UTM withdrawal was announced on Friday in Lilongwe, a month after a plane crash claimed the lives of State Vice-President and UTM founder Saulos Klaus Chilima and eight others.
Nation on Sunday asked Kamtukule if she would resign over the party’s decision.
UTM member and part of the Chakwera cabinet, Vera Kamtukule
Kamtukule responded:”The reasons for which I accepted the appointment in the first place have not changed, so I am not resigning.”
When asked what the reasons were, she said:”That question should have been asked on July 11, 2020, when I took the oath of office.”
It is now up to UTM acting president Michael Usi, who earlier said he would comment later on his party’s decision.
Usi is now the Vice President in the Tonse Alliance Government following the death of Saulos Chilima.
Meanwhile, political analyst Wonderful Mkhutche says there will be no UTM-related resignations as most would choose their positions over the party.
“They are safer in their government positions, both politically and financially, than with the party. After all, UTM’s pull-out from Tonse Alliance has been marred with hastiness, and it is hard for one to follow the party out. This could have been different if it was done when Chilima was alive,” he observed.
Mkhutche noted that the lack of resignations is a sign of divisions in UTM but urged the party to stick to its decisions.
“They have already crossed the Rubicon. No more coming back to the alliance. To MCP, it is a message that they handled the alliance without certain considerations.
“However, that UTM is divided is clear, even to MCP. But they should not think that the prominent UTM people are not resigning because they are a better party. They remain in government because of government and not MCP,” he said.
MCP publicist Ezekiel Ching’oma said it is possible that factions exist within UTM, with one faction potentially advocating for the dissolution of the alliance.
He said they are waiting for official communication from UTM.
“Once received, we will convene as a party to strategize the next steps, and the nation will be informed accordingly,” he said.
Meanwhile, legal expert Gladwell Majekete has observed that UTM did not exhaust all avenues stipulated in the agreement before resolving to walk out of the alliance.
“One would also fault its conduct in as far as the alliance document is concerned that UTM did not exhaust the dispute resolution mechanisms as provided for in Article 5 of the agreement.
“In view of rules of construing agreements under contract law, UTM has violated the terms of the agreement by severing ties with MCP without invoking the dispute resolution mechanisms in the contract nor satisfying the requisite notice period,” the political scientist and governance scholar said.
Article 5 reads in part: “Where UTM and MCP have failed to resolve their differences in the manner outlined in sub-paragraph (1), they shall appoint three (3) arbitrators to be agreed by both parties. The arbitrators shall comprise a retired Judge, a member of the clergy, and any other person agreed by the parties. The decision of the arbitrators shall be final and binding on the parties.”
The agreement was signed in 2020 prior to the court-sanctioned Fresh Presidential Elections.
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has urged Malawians to continue praying for Malawi and its future.
Chakwera was speaking on Sunday at Lingadzi Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) in Lilongwe’s Area 12, where he took part in a service of worship.
The president expressed heartfelt appreciation for the unwavering commitment and dedication of the Lingadzi CCAP to praying for the progress of the country.
Chakwera at Lingadzi
Chakwera emphasized the importance of seeking divine guidance for the development of the nation and cultivating a culture of collective responsibility, encapsulated in the “Brother’s Keeper” mentality.
The Malawi leader also graciously acknowledged the invaluable support received from the CCAP church, both publicly and privately, underscoring the pivotal role of this unified spiritual foundation in fortifying the nation of Malawi.
He implored fellow Malawians to persist in seeking divine intervention for the advancement of the country across all facets, aspiring to propel Malawi into becoming a self-reliant and flourishing nation.
President Chakwera applauded the CCAP Church for spearheading various developmental projects.
He passionately urged all members to wholeheartedly engage in these initiatives and continue to steadfastly support one another in this noble pursuit.
On his part, Professor Sam Phiri, the Clerk for Lingadzi CCAP, commended President Chakwera’s unyielding support for the Lingadzi CCAP congregation and the entire assembly present at the service of worship.
Phiri disclosed the positive strides made by the church in terms of membership and their potent impact through pivotal developmental endeavors, underscoring their indispensable significance in the country’s transformative journey.
In his remarks, Resident Minister for Lingadzi CCAP, Davie Franklin Salimoni, commended President Chakwera for gracing the church service with his presence, despite his demanding schedule.
Salimoni praised the President’s unwavering commitment to orchestrating the Service of Worship at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in commemoration of the 60th independence anniversary, lauding this demonstration of leadership and reverence.
Salimoni also recounted the relentless trials and tribulations that have beset Malawi in recent years.
Inside sources within the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have confided to the media that Dr. Dalitso Kabambe, the former Reserve Bank Governor and presidential candidate for the DPP, has resigned with immediate effect.
The source reveals that Kabambe has already submitted his resignation letter to the party’s President, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika.
Kabambe
There are reports suggesting that Kabambe is set to join the United Transformation Movement (UTM), where he is being courted to take a leadership role. Additionally, it is alleged that UTM is exploring a coalition with DPP, with Kabambe potentially being offered the vice presidency.
We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more details become available.
