Lumbadzi Accident Claim Two Lives

A female passenger has died on the spot while her driver pronounced dead upon arrival at  Kamuzu Central Hospital when the vehicle they were in got involved in a head on collision at Lumbadzi Trading Centre in Lilongwe.

Elephant Brutally Kills A Farmer Near Thuma Forest

A farmer in Salima district was brutally trampled to death by an elephant from Thuma Forest-the horrific attack has brought fear among people farming closer to the forest.

Police in the district identified the deceased as a 55 year old man Enuya Enali of Mkwatire village T/A Kambwiri in Salima.

Salima district police public relations officer, Sub Inspector Gift Chitowe, explained that the shocking incident took place near Thuma Forest Reserve in the evening of April 30 2016 around 17:00 hours.

"The deceased was in his garden slashing maize stalks when a charged elephant suddenly emerged and attacked him to death" said Chitowe while indicating that the deceased garden borders with Thuma Forest Reserve

He said people from neighboring farms who witnessed the incident tried in vain to prevent the attack by ringing bells and blowing whistles just to fend-off the animal and also to send warning to others about the incoming danger.

"One of the eyewitness said they saw the deceased trying to escape while shouting for help. They blew whistles and rung bells just to scare-off the elephant as well warning each other to run away. Unfortunately the elephant appeared too close from his behind and it trampled him" narrates Chitowe

Chitowe said the deceased was pronounced dead at the scene and he suffered severe injuries as his body was trumpled to pieces.

This is a fourth attack in a period of three years since the fence surrounding the forest was ransacked.

According to Chitowe, elephants from Thuma forest are on loose because the fence surrounding the forest was vandalized by communities around the forest who wanted an easy access into the forest to cut down trees for making charcoal.

Ntchisi ADMARC Official In Maize, Fertilizer Theft; Police Officer Involved

• Admarc official was arrested on after stealing Maize worth close to a Million Kwacha after customer logged complaints about fertilizer 
• Few hours after arrest police were tipped that last night he diverted 300 bags of fertiliser subsidy with help of Police Officer 

Police officer was also involved in fertilizer theft

Police in Ntchisi have arrested Unit Marketing Officer for Msumba ADMARC for allegedly stealing maize valued close to a Million Kwacha and few hours after his arrest, police stumbled upon information connecting him to the missing 300 bags of subsidy fertiliser in Ntchisi district.

Police have identified the suspect as George Kambwiri, aged 56, of Nankhako village in the area of Traditional Authority Ntema in Lilongwe.

Ntchisi Police Public Relations Officer Sergeant Gladson M'bumpha says his arrest on maize allegations came following complaints from customers around Msumba ADMARC depot that the officer had tricked them to pay money for fertilizer but was unable to give them the commodity in return.

M'bumpha says "The complaints reached ADMARC officials at Mponela who reacted by sending an internal auditor supervisor, Prince George Kambwiri to follow up the matter but upon carrying out  maize and fertilizer stock inspection at the depot, it was discovered that bags of maize in quantities of 50kgs worth K787, 930 (Seven Hundred and Eighty Seven Thousand Kwacha, Nine Hundred and Thirty Kwacha), were found missing."

M'bumpha says police arrested the Unit Marketing Officer on charges of Theft by Servant immediately when the incident was reported to Ntchisi Police Station on 15th January, 2016.

He further indicated that, police in the district are investigating other complaints related to the matter and in the mean time, no single bag of maize has been recovered.

Fertilizer Scandal Involving Police Officer 

As police are continuing with the maize investigations, have also leveled new charge to George Kambwiri on Official Corruption after coming across information that the maize suspect, was involved together with three other individuals among them a police officer, in fertiliser theft which occurred night before his arrest.

Sergeant M'bumpha has disclosed that Kambwiri is currently in police custody together with the three accomplices suspected to be responsible of the missing 300 bags of 50kgs containing Urea fertilizer meant for Nsinda and Mzandu ADMARC depots in Ntchisi.

Three other suspects have been identified as Dalitso Chafika, a driver aged 36, business man, Chikondi Kalulu aged 34, and a police officer, Sub Inspector Stephen Katundu working at VIP Branch in Lilongwe. 

"The motor vehicle registration number BU 3009 for Apita Investment carrying subsidy fertilizer from Kanengo to Mzandu and Nsinda ADMARC selling points in Ntchisi under police escort of Sub Inspector Stephen Katundu was diverted to Msumba ADMARC selling point (where Kambwiri worked as Unit Marketing Officer) where 200 bags were offloaded and the remaining 100 bags were sold to a vendor at Ntchisi Trading Centre" explains M'bumpha

Police Public Relations Officer for Ntchisi district, Sergeant Gladson M'bumpha says the  fertiliser of Urea type was under Government program, Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) being sold to smallholder farmers.

According to M'bumpha police have established that business man, Chikondi Kalulu bribed the Unit Marketing Officer with K175, 000, the driver with K130, 000, the Police officer with K50,000 and assistant driver with K20,000.

"The Unit Marketing Officer (George Kambwiri) admitted to have been bribed." confirmed M'bumpha

Driver, Dalitso Chafika comes from Chizumba village, Traditional Authority Ntema in Lilongwe, while business man, Chikondi Kalulu comes from Ndendere village, Traditional Authority Chikho in Ntchisi and Sub Inspector Stephen Katundu works at VIP Branch in Lilongwe.

A Mine Collapse Kills Wife, Husband Left With Multiple Bruises In Salima

A wife has been killed as husband survives with multiple bruises in the whole body during a mine collapse in Salima district.

The fatal incident happened when the upper cavity of a tunnel collapsed while the family was inside searching for precious stones.

Police Public Relations Officer in the district, Sub Inspector Gift Chitowe says Police in the district have identified the deceased as a 36 year old Elinati Mkaundu of Fuse village T/A Kalonga in the district.

Chitowe says the two got trapped inside of the tunnel which they are suspected to have been extracting Granite stones.

"On 8th January the deceased together with her husband left their home to Sadzu village where they wanted to try their luck in search of precious Granite stones and upon arrival at the site they went straight to the pit and started searching for those stones.

But all over a sudden, the earth of that pit fell on them and the deceased died on the spot while her husband was left with multiple bruises in the whole body." Explains Chitowe

He also indicated that Salima Distict Hospital confirmed that the death was caused by suffocation.

This is not the first time that illegal small scale miners in the same village, Sadzu, have been reported killed while extracting precious stones, a new hot business in the area which is attracting people from Lilongwe, Dowa and Salima districts.

On Christmas day in 2014, three people were killed while two others survived mine collapse as they were extracting Gemstones. Two men aged 24 and 25 and a 2 year old girl were killed in the accident while the mother of the girl and another man were admitted at Salima district hospital for sustained serious injuries.

Man Aged 41 Gets 10 Yrs Imprisonment For Defiling 8 Year Girl In Dowa

41 year old Man in Dowa district has been sentenced to serve 10 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling 8 year old girl.

The man identified as Harold Vanison from Chioko village T/A Nkukula in the district was convicted after pleading guilty to defilement charge.

According to Dowa Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Richard Kaponda the Dowa First Grade Magistrate Curt heard that the convict has been sexually abusing the little girl for several times until this year on 4th January when her mother suspected her daughter's limp walking. 

Kaponda said the court was told that after assaulting the girl the convict used to give the victim some sweets and fresh maize as a way of keeping her mouth shut.

The Dowa district police Publicist said during court appearance on Friday 8th January the convict after pleading guilty he asked the court to exercise leniency on him saying that a lengthy custodial sentence will bring suffering to his family because he is the bread winner and further asked for time to be let go home to apply fertilizer in his garden since it is a farming season.

But Sergeant Kaponda said Police Prosecutor, sub inspector Beston Chimbenenga prayed for stiffer sentence which may deter other would be offenders.

Sergeant Kaponda said at last, First Grade Magistrate His Worship Emulani Phiri agreed with the police prosecutor saying the convict needed stiffer punishment to deter other would be offenders because cases of defilement are common in Dowa district then passed the verdict of 10 years Imprisonment with Hard Labour.

FDH Bank Donates K2 Million To Spouses Of Policemen

Kachama (left) Majamanda (right)

A local bank, FDH Bank has donated K2 million to the wife's of Policemen in the Malawi Police Service.

Through the donation, FDH wants to support the policemen spouses engage in some small scale businesses that can support them and their families.

Majamanda

Head of Corporate Business Banking for FDH Bank, Sitabene Majamanda when making the donation at the Police Head Quarters in Lilongwe, said this year, FDH decided to empower police officers wives so that they can support their families through small scale businesses while as their spouses are providing noble safety and security service to the country.

"When we came in to Malawi Police Service on a business trip, we actually come across this idea that what if we come up with the sustainability what we call Ethics and Sustainability within our corporate social responsibility to create a fund for the spouses of the police men.

We know the great job that the police men do. They are so many of them but we thought about their wives that are sitting at home supporting the men that are out to do the job. So our management was pleased to support this initialize because it is part of women empowerment." Explains Majamanda

"When our police officers are sure that their spouses are generating extra money, they can have peace of mind while carrying out their duties" added Majamanda who thanked the dedicated men in Uniform who are playing a critical role in the development of the country day and night of providing safety and security services that is important for many of Malawian business to be able to do their business in peace.

Kachama

After receiving the money, the wife of Inspector General of Police, Ruth Kachama, chairperson for the Police Officers Wives, said the donation will boost their Welfare Fund established a year ago when State President Peter Mutharika made a donation worth K5 million.

"This is good gesture and will assist us very much and empower the wives of police officers." Said Mrs Kachama

Kachama said some of the businesses that Police wives do include poultry, groceries and other small scale businesses.

The K2 million revolving fund will be fully administered by the Malawi Police Service without the FDH Bank involvement.  However, the bank will continue supporting the women by providing some training through business clinics to help them gain basic skills for running small businesses. The first lot of women have already undergone this training.

The police women will be able to borrow small amounts that they need to do some small scale business. When they borrow the money, it will have a 6 months grace period after which they are expected to repay it without interest. The repaid amounts will allow the other women to also borrow from the revolving fund and also repay interest free after the six months period.

According to the Bank, there is free interest because the donation is coming as cooperate social responsibility and women empowerment. The Bank further maintains that the help was necessary to empower women spouses who in most cases take care of the children so that they contribute to the economic well-being of their husbands by engaging in some activities that can generate some extra revenue for the family while as their husbands are providing safety and security to the nation.

FDH Bank is a Malawian Bank which started operations in 2009 and is part of the FDH Financial Holding Group which has subsidiaries in stockbroking, discount house operations, Money Bureau and recently acquired 80 percent stake in Malawi Savings Bank

Police File Details Death of An Officer Shot By Armed Robbers

Though Malawi Police Service decline to reveal the identity of a police officer shot dead and two others injure by armed robbers Monday morning, the social media had in the same day evening shared file believed to be the police report sourced from police.

The report includes names of both victims and suspected robbers as well as detailed events of the shooting.

This is a file being shared on the social media

MURDER / ARMED ROBBERY

DECEASED: NO: A5517 SGT. ANTHONY MKOKHO

Occurred today the 8th June 2015 near Cashbuild roundabout Lilongwe at about 0900hrs.

Brief Facts are that on this date No. A5517 Sgt Mkokho, Vge; Manyamba, T/A; Tchena, District; Mulanje, C/O PMS C Division  and No. B3060 Const James Clifford; Village; Chizuma, T/A; Mphoma, District: Nkhotakota C/O PMS C Division were on escort duties of Petroda Money in a Minibus BQ 3472 Toyota Hiace Driven by Mr Wilson Chikweya, age: 33 years, Village; Mtekateka, T/A; Mponela, District; Dowa, C/O Petroda Malawi and accompanied by an Accountant Mr. Hassan Ali, Aged: 44years, Kenyan National, C/O Petroda Malawi Limited.

They collected the money approx K46.4 million kwacha sales from various filling stations to petroda Headquarters in area 4 filling station near kamuzu Central Hospital Roundabout. At this time they were proceeding to FMB Bank.

When they reached near Cash build roundabout unknown criminals using BS 6189 Nissan Tilda Saloon (stolen from area 9 but belonging to Isaland Investment Real  Real Number MJ 7494 Nissan Tilda)

The criminals blocked the Minibus, the police officers consequently fired one bullet to scare away the criminals. The criminals came out from their vehicle and started shooting at the Minibus.

In the process No. A5517 Sgt. Anthony Mkokho was killed on the scene while while No. B3060 Constable James Clifford was shot in the head and he is critically injured noe admitted at Kamuzu Central Hospital. The criminals run away with a bag of money amounting to K46.4 Million.

After the incident at cash build the criminals took the road to crossroads roundabout into Chitukuko road direction. Upon reaching Chitukuko, they attacked a Nissan Bongo Minibus MH 6100  driven by by Mr Gerald Tsogolani, C/O Mr Innocent Meja PSI Malawi, Box 30133, Lilongwe 3. They shot some bullets to scare passengers and subsequently hijacked the Minibus.
Fortunately Zone 2 under supervision of Insp Duncan Duncan Kamanga of Lingadzi Police who were in area 47 sector 2, reacted quickly to the scene.

On the scene,  BS 6189 Nissan Tilda Saloon a vehicle used criminals,  K2C rifle serial No. K007376 with with 5 rounds of ammunitions snatched from Police Officers were recovered. One K2C rifle serial No. K0078147 has been stolen. However the criminals used two bullets from Police firearm and have gone away with 3 rounds of live ammunitions.
Follow up minibus MH 6100 Nissan Bongo was recovered near Majesty Lodge in area 47. Currently investigations to trace and arrest the criminals have been  intensified.

However information from well wishers indicate that Ex Police Officers Mr Richard Tsotsi Phiri who was dismissed from PMS, Mr. Makina a known Armed Robber, Mr. Fred Juma and Benson Harawa (whose driving license and ATM Card were found in the car used by these criminals are the people who were also  involved in area 47 Robberies) are the main suspects.