Failed Attempt To Sell Son Lands Man In 18 Months In Prison

First Grade Magistrate Court in Salima has sentenced a 25 year old man, Andrea Seveni  to serve 18 months imprisonment after court conviction of his sickening failed attempt to sale his biological son to prominent fisherman.

According to Salima Police Public Relations Officer, Sub Inspector Gift Chitowe, said the convict who hails from Kasina village of T/A Kaphuka in Dedza district planned do such a sordid business of selling his 8 months old son to a well known fisherman at Lifuwu Trading Centre. 

"Public Prosecutor sergeant John Kamphani told court that the convict went to the house of the fisherman." explains Chitowe, "There, he asked the fisherman if he could buy his 8 months old son but after being shocked with the news, the fisherman asked the convict to come another day for further discussion of this business. Immediately the convict had left, the fishermen went straight to police to report this disturbing matter to Lifuwu police who had the suspect arrested." 

Sub Inspector Chitowe said the prosecutor pleaded with the court to give the convict a stiffer penalty which will set as an example to others because his motive of willing to sell his own biological son is not only strange but as well immoral and offensive act. 

"When passing the judgement, First Grade Magistrate Alex Kamtiki observed that the behaviour of the convict was inhuman more especially now when people of similar motives take Albinos as source of money. He said the 18 months prison sentence is a good punishment to warn others who may wish to commit similar offences in future." Said Chitowe

Meanwhile, in Salima district a man has committed suicide on suspicions that he was tired of long time illness.

A 34 year old man Josam Frank of Mtula village T/A Mwanza District Salima has hanged himself to death in a tree over his health says Police.

"The deceased was diagnosed to be HIV positive in 2013 and was recommended to be on ARV treatment." Said Chitowe

"In the middle of night of 7th February a day he went to get his ART's at Salima District Hospital, he got out of his house as if he wanted to answer call of nature leaving his wife asleep. An hour went without his return forcing the troubled wife to inform her relatives about his sudden missing.

Then early hours of of 8th February the bereaved wife with help of her relatives began search of him and they found his body hanging dead from a tree just 20 meter away from home" explained Chitowe 

Sub Inspector Chitowe then advised members of the general public not to commit suicide as a way of solving problems because doing so, one inflicts much suffering to the bereaved family and all dependants.

Man Dies, 8 Survives Fatal Accident In Salima

Man has died while eight other minibus passengers survive a deadly accident after the vehicle they were in, overturned several times following a tyre burst on Saturday afternoon.

Salima Police officers identified the deceased as John Abbi aged 35 of Chimwere village T/A Tambala in Dedza district who is reported to have died on the spot for severe head injuries.

Salima district Police Public Relations Officer, Sub Inspector Gift CHitowe says the accident occurred around 13:40 hours at Mtonga Trading Centre along Salima-Lilongwe road 

“The vehicle was coming from Lilongwe direction heading Salima and upon arrival at Mtonga Trading Centre the rear right tyre of the min-bus bursted forcing the vehicle to overturn several times. Passengers were thrown out of the bus as it was overturning” explains Chitowe

He indicated that two surviving passengers, Alexander Katema aged 34 of Chitalo village T/A Kalembo in Balaka district and another unknown male passenger have sustained serious injuries and are admitted at Salima district Hospital while the other Six passengers sustained minor injuries. 

Chitowe said the motor vehicle, Toyota Hiace registration number SA 1824 was driven by Misiyasi Lefiyasi aged 32 of Maweru village T/A Chiwere on Dowa district.

Two Men Arrested For Stealing Gun Belonging To Mw Evangelist Shadreck Wame

Police in Salima are keeping in lawful custody two young men for stealing Greener rifle (gun) which belongs to Malawi's renown Evangelist, Shadreck Wame. 

Police in the district have identified the two as Sayenera Chisomo aged 20 and Michael Esau aged 22 who were working as tenants at Pastor's estate located at Chifuniro village, T/A Kalonga in Salima.

"On the night of 26th December 2015 the two broke into the house of their master while the owner was away and stole a Greener rifle(gun) together with 17 rounds of ammunitions and escaped an arrest." Says Sub Inspector Gift Chitowe, Salima District Police Public Relations Officer

He went on, "When the owner had returned from where he went, he was surprised to see that his rifle was missing and his tenants also were nowhere to be traced."

Chitowe said the suspects were arrested following man hunt operation launched by police after receiving several leads to their whereabouts.

Sub Inspector Chitowe said the  first suspect was apprehended at his home village of Kamwana T/A Mponela in Dowa district who revealed that the rifle was with the his accomplice, who was also at his home village of Godi, T/A Kabudula in Lilongwe district where the rifle was recovered together with the amunitions.

The two suspects will appear in court soon where they will be answering to Burglary and Theft charges.

Flood Victims in Balaka, Salima Hails WOLREC for the Humanitarian Response

399 Families Supported in Balaka while 465 Reached in Salima district 

Food Distribution in Progress in Balaka district

Flash floods affected Communities of Salima and Balaka districts that have expressed thanks to ‘Women’s Legal Resource Centre’ (WOLREC) a Women Rights organization for its humanitarian assistance to families that were affected by the disaster.

As part of WOLREC’s project of Promoting Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment (PROWESE) the institution distributed assorted relief items worth K6.5 million in the areas of Traditional Authorities Chanthunya and Sawali in Balaka district and Maganga as well as Mwanza in Salima district since 25 February, 2015.

Up to 399 affected families in Balaka received various relief items including laundry soap, sachets of chlorine powder (for water treatment), Maize flour, and blankets while in Salima 465 beneficiaries have further been given 3 tonnes of Cassava Stems and Sweet Potato Veins following requests by the victims themselves after realizing that maize and legume planting season is almost gone.

Some of the beneficiaries in Salima district 

Speaking during distribution exercise in his area, Group Village Head Kaniche of Salima district, expressed grateful for the timely response to their predicament. He, however, was quick to say that the gesture was beyond their expectation “WOLREC, is our friend indeed. When we got a call that you are ready to help us, we did not think that was possible.”

“You have shown us how much you care for us far beyond our expectation,” he said with jubilation and further asked WOLREC to continue with similar types of aids.

One beneficiary, Mai Esnala John of Msambafumu, a mother of 6 children was equally grateful. After her maize garden got washed away she did not know what to do as her husband is not involved in any income generating activities. The husband cannot walk after a sickness that left him paralyzed. She says medical expenses have depleted her savings (her Village Savings and Loan VSL) as such her business (selling sweet beer – thobwa and maize flour fritters – zitumbuwa) has been affected.

Woman looks at her washed away garden

Esnala said the bag of flour she got was going to go a long way. Her family will have proper meals for a few days and the cassava stems will assure her of an alternative harvests and source of income other than the maize.

Several other beneficiaries said the aid will help them rebuild their businesses as they will at least concentrate on the same for a few days when they will be using the items received from the response.

“We are supporting flood victims with immediate material needs to help cope with their everyday livelihoods as a result of the flash floods for improved livelihood” said Programmes Officer for WOLREC Gift Mauluka who added, “We decided to help flood victims in Salima with cassava cuttings and potato veins for replanting in fields where crops were washed away or destroyed”

Washed away maize field in Balaka district

“Through an assessment that WOLREC conducted, it was found that Members of Village Savings and Loan (VSLs) that WOLREC work with in the PROWESE project, have also not been spared.” enlighten the WOLREC Programmes Officer

Mauluka further indicated that 399 (287 female headed households) and 465 (302 female headed households) in Balaka and Salima respectively were affected in different ways, “VSL members have lost their houses; livestocks and crop fields have been washed away or their fields have been water-logged to the extent that it is impossible to cultivate the fields; and some have their household items completely destroyed.” 

WOLREC has made the donation through financial assistance from Swedish Organization for Individual Relief (SOIR) a partner working with the institution in a project on Women Economic Empowerment.

Over 15 districts in Malawi including Nsanje, Chikwawa, Phalombe and Zomba are some of the worst hit areas by this year’s devastating floods in memory. Floods have destroyed many hectares of fields where people had already planted different types of crops. Livestock have been destroyed; roads and bridges have been washed away, thereby disturbing socio-economic activities of most people. 

Malawi was declared as a State of Disaster with effect from 13th January 2015 when President Peter Mutharika in accordance with powers conferred upon him by section 32 (1) of the Disaster Preparedness and Relief Act, declared all the districts affected by floods Disaster Areas. 

Communities, Police Tightens Security on Albino Abduction in Salima

Communities, Police Tightens Security on Albino Abduction in Salima

Communities and Police in the district of Salima have join hands in the fight against killings of people born albino by tightening security in all the communities.

The development comes as Salima Police in the week ending on Saturday 14th March, 2015, were sensitizing Salima communities of the significance of protecting albinos by reporting to police, cases and suspected persons to be perpetrators of the of albino abduction. 

Salima district Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Gift Chitowe said police encounter with communities has led to revamping and establishing community policing Forums as their message has been warmly welcomed

“The incidents of albino abduction and hacking of their body parts is now a big issue in this country, we know that the lives of our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters born albino are in danger” he said, “As Salima Police we thought, it is imperative that we communicate with members of the general public on the importance of collaboration in the efforts of safeguarding lives of albinos in the district.”

Sgt. Chitowe emphasized “We cannot end this malpractice without effective engagement with communities” and added, “We are happy that we received a warm welcome because people have promised to protect albinos and report suspects or any case to Police”

Salima Police PRO also mentioned that Community Policing Coordinator Prisca Maulana throughout the meetings assured communities that police will ensure that Community Policing group members are trained so that they conduct their duties professionally.

Chitowe said police in the district are pursuing one suspected case of albino abduction following disappearance of an albino man who used to be found at Salima Metro shop “We are continuing with our investigations to establish if his disappearance is a result of abduction or if he moved somewhere else”

Cases of albino abduction for human parts are on the increase in Malawi where, more than dozen cases have been reported and many have been arrested for being found in possession of bones and body parts suspected to belong to albino person. Each passing week, there are reported cases of either missing albino or exhumation of albino graves.