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.

Man Sodomised 16 Year Old Boy 8 Times Now In Custody

A 21 year old man is in police hands for sodomising a 16 year old boy for eight times, but all happened in separate occasions.

Police in Dowa says the young man identified as Rodney Kamanga aged 21 was arrested following reports that he sodomised his best friend aged 16.

Richard Kaponda

"Indeed we have arrested a 21 year old man Rodney Kanga for sodomising a fellow man aged 16." Confirmed Sergeant Richard Kaponda, Dowa district Police Public Relations Officer 

"The accused and the victim have been friends for a long time but we got report that the 16 year old has been sodomised by his friend. The victim told police that the day of the incident, he was invited into Kamanga's house then to his bedroom where the sodomy took place" explained Kaponda

He also confirmed that when the victim was referred to Dowa District hospital, doctors confirmed that the boy was really sodomised.

However, Kaponda also said the victim (name withheld) further revealed to police that this was not first time to have sex with Rodney Kamanga. he said this was eight time, only that he has been keeping the issue secret.

The police officer, said the victim, had once received a sum of K100 from the accused after sex and that after the recent incident which happened on 11th October 2015, was given some cooked irish potatoes.

The suspect comes from Mtambo village of T/A Simphasi in Mchinji district while the victim comes from Dzikometsa village of T/A Chiwere in Dowa. And the accused man is expected to appear in court soon to answer charges of sodomy.

Ntchisi Woman Die in Collapsed Clay Soil Mine

A 52 year old woman has died in a tragic accident in Ntchisi district when upper cavity walls of clay soil tunnel she was in collapsed.

Ntchisi District Police Public Relations Officer,  Sergeant Gladson M'bumpha said the deceased identified as Mary Batson Mwale, was buried inside canal when trying to mine clay soil which she wanted to decorate her house.

"Police investigations indicate that on Monday July 27 2015 at around 4pm, the deceased in a company of two other women went to collect soil
for smearing their houses.
As the deceased was digging the soil in the mine, the upper cavity of the wall of the mine collapsed and fell over her and died on the spot." Said M'bumpha

Sergeant M'bumpha indicated that clinical officer from Ntchisi District Hospital confirmed that the death was due to internal bleeding.

The incident that killed Mary Batson Mwale on Monday 27th July,  2015 happened at Chinguwo village in the area of Traditional Authority Kalumo in Ntchisi

Sergeant M'bumpha said the deceased was from Nkhwindima village in the area of Traditional Authority Kalumo in Ntchisi.

Similarly incident has occured on 16th this month where a woman lost life in Dowa district while two others were admitted at Dowa District Hospital when the upper cavity of a tunnel they were in to extract clay soil collapsed and fell on them.

Sergeant Richard Kaponda,  Dowa Police Public Relations Officer identified the deceased as Namatochi Isaac aged 62 of Mwaza village  from T/A Chiwere in Dowa district.

He said these women were in a village competition involving prize money to the best house decorator. He said the incident took place at Bimphi village T/A Chiwere  and were trapped in a cave along Chigodi river where the deceased died on sport due to head injuries.

Edwin Mauluka Today understands that the Dowa incident is the third in the district in a period of two years following two separate incidences last year.  In one incident that occurred in April 2014,  three women died and one was left with sustained serious injuries.

However Sergeant Kaponda says such incidences are happening in the same area despite several warnings from the chiefs and police.

Malawian Boy Sent To Reformatory Centre For Raping 73 Year Old Granny

A young boy has been sent to stay two years at a reformatory centre after being convicted of raping a granny aged more than four times his age.

A First Grade Magistrate court in Dowa district ordered Danniel Kwenda aged 17 to stay at Chirwa reformatory centre for two years.

The court heard from Police prosecutor Sergeant Agnes Mphinga that the young man, had raped the granny aged 73 years.

Sergeant Mphinga narrates in the court that at the time of rape, the old woman was returning from her garden with vegetables in her hands. Then Mphinga said the woman was abruptly approached by the young man demanding that she surrender her vegetables.

At that moment, the two had wrestled before the boy forcibly sent down the old woman and raped her said the prosecutor. 

The court was further informed that the young man (Danniel Kwenda) works as a cowboy and was herding his cattle when he appallingly launched the attack.  

The boy admitted the charge during court hearing on Friday 10th July, 2015.

Surprisingly the accused boy said the granny was “sweet.” 

The First Grade Magistrate Amulani Phiri after hearing from state who asked for stiffer punishment,  ordered Daniel Kwenda to be sent for 2 years at Chirwa reformatory centre because he is a child and was a first offender. 

The complainant was not present at the court.  According to Police Public Relations Officer for Dowa Police,  Sergeant Richard Kaponda,  the old woman comes from Thambwe village of T/A Mkukula in Dowa while the 17 year old boy,  comes from of Mose village T/A Mazengela in Lilongwe.  

The offence of rape is Contrary to section 133 of the penal code and attracts a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment with had labour.

In an interview the police prosecutor Sergeant Agnes Mphinda said she was satisfied with the order by the court. 

"He is a child and is a first offender. He grew up without his parents and proper supervision" she said,  "Sending him to Chirwa is part of protecting this child. Though two years seem to be less punishment, but I hope that his stay at the reformatory centre he will learn learn a lot in terms of behaviour and skills. So he will get reformed"

However, the court also clarified that when two year period is reached, the commission at Chirwa reformatory centre will assess the boy if has really been reformed to be sent back home  or extend years of his stay at the centre.

The boy raped the granny on 5th July 2015 near Dowa turn-off near to the victims village. According to Dowa Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Kaponda, the members of community managed to apprehend the boy and took him to police. He also said Dowa District Hospital examination confirmed the woman was indeed raped. 

Man Kills Wife, Daughter Then Commit Suicide After Suspecting Wife Infidelity

A 45 year old man in Dowa district was found hanging from a tree with his wife lie dead in their field garden, but the body of their daughter is still missing, Dowa Police says and suspects this was a family matter.

It is suspected that wild animals have eaten the  body of the daughter as the dead body of the wife was found with one leg eaten by unidentified wild animals.

According to Police in Dowa district the deceased man identified as Ishmael Chambali Damusi aged 45 from Kachikunda village of T/A Chiwere in the district committed suicide after murdering his wife and 1 and half year old daughter when he suspected cheating by his wife.

Police Public Relations Officer in Dowa, Sergeant Richard Kaponda says police were told by the brother to the deceased woman that the man had warned his wife before that he will kill her when he suspected of her sneaking out with another man.

Sergeant Kaponda says the man had on Friday last weekend gone to the garden together with his wife and the daughter but never came back. The police officer said this surprised neighbours who went to search for the missing family on Sunday.

The police officer said it is suspected that while at their garden, the man murdered his wife Gilina Maliki Chambali aged 33 and daughter Tamandani Chambali of Nyangu village T/A Chiwere in Dowa.

Kaponda said there is strong sign that the man had committed suicide after he strangled his wife and the missing daughter.

A Female Pastor Dump's Her Newly Born Child To Save God

• A 41 year old female pastor was Leading Mvera Assemblies of God Church 

• Dumped the child for fear of being fired 

Sgt Richard Kaponda: The female pastor is in
Police custody and the baby is fine

A female Pastor of Assemblies of God Church in Mvera , has dumped her newly born baby boy, but the baby weighing 3.6kgs is in good health at Mvera Hospital as a 41 year old mom is in police custody in Dowa district.

The baby boy has survived after members of community found him crying in a bush and was taken to Mvera hospital immediately, says Dowa Police Public Relations Officer Sergeant Richard Kaponda who identified the mother as a pastor leading the congregation at Mvera Assemblies of God Church, Mercy Longwe aged 41 from Chipuza village of T/A Chiwere in Dowa district.

Dowa Police PRO said members of the community found the newly born wrapped in clothes and it was clear that the child was dumped there. 

"After the child was taken to Mvera hospital, police were alerted of the development and our investigation led to the arrest of Mercy Longwe" said Kaponda while confirm that the female pastor confessed she is the owner of the abandoned baby boy.

Sgt Kaponda said Pastor Mercy Longwe (not married) told police that she delivered the child in the bush so that it should be easy to dump the newly born child.

She explained to police that the decision to dump the child came when her boyfriend had earlier denied to support her and the unborn child.

She further told police that, she could have been fired as a pastor if she kept the baby alive, since it would have been considered an offense against church doctrine for unmarried female pastor to bore a child.

Pastor Longer also told police that she kept her pregnancy secret by tighten her stomach and telling lies to those who happen to take notice of it. Said Kaponda, "She said, when someone asks she would claim that it was 'Njodo' (Potbelly)."

"Mercy Longwe will appear in court soon to answer the charge of concealing the birth of a child" says Sgt Kaponda 

28 Ethiopians Sentenced To 1 Month Imprisonment: To Face Deportation At the End Of Jail Term

28 Ethiopians have been sentenced to a month imprisonment and later face deportation for illegal entry. 

The Ethiopian nationals whose their ages ranges 19 and 29 were arrested last week according to Dowa Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Richard Kaponda.

The Dowa First Grade Magistrate Court heard from Police Prosecutor Sergeant Gerald Kizombe that the 28 Ethiopian nationals entered Malawi illegally with aid from unknown persons currently at large. Sgt Kizombe further told the court that the immigrants were found at Dzaleka Refugee Camp when members of the general public had tipped-off the police of the suspicious arrival of the immigrants at the camp.

Kizombe then prayed for stiffer penalty to deter the would be offenders since cases of illegal entry by foreigners is on the increase. 

First Grade Magistrate Imrani Phiri then sentenced the illegal immigrants to one month in jail and that at the end of their jail term government should deport them.

Meanwhile, Dowa Police Public Relations Officer Sergeant Richard Kaponda said police are looking for the individuals who aided these 28 Ethiopians to enter the country. Sgt Kaponda said once the culprits are found, they will answer charges of aiding illegal entry.

Cases of illegal entry by Ethiopians are on the increase in Malawi. In police in the district of Dowa alone, have arrested over 71 Ethiopian nationals on similar offence. 

In January, Dowa First Grade magistrate Court sentenced 71 Ethiopian nationals to serve 3 months imprisonment with hard labour and that after their jail term government should deport them all. The court also fined them K5, 000 each.

Suspected Robber Dies, 1 Survive From Car Accident in Dowa; Two Others At Large

• The accident happened when their driver failed to negotiate a corner

• They were coming from a robbery mission

Unidentified man has died while the other is admitted at Dowa District Hospital after Toyota Stout pickup truck they were travelling in over turned three times in Dowa.

Police in the district says there were four passengers in the vehicle but, are being suspected to have been robbers who were returning from a village where they stole three cattle’s. 

Dowa Police Public Relations Officer Sergeant Richard Kaponda said two other men runaway immediately after the accident happened but one of the passengers who survived the accident is receiving treatment at Dowa Hospital for sustained serious injuries. The survivor has since been identified as Isaac Zakeyu Gwembere aged 32 of Sitole village from T/A Mzuma in Mulanje district. 

The police officer said beef meat was also found in the Toyota Stout pickup truck which its registration number is BJ 3813.

Sgt. Kaponda who said investigation are under way to arrest the two suspects currently on the run, indicated that the four suspected robbers were coming from Chibazi area where they stole three heads of cattle and slaughtered them. He said, they were going to the Capital city Lilongwe via Dzaleka when their driver failed to negotiate a corner and lost control before it over turned thrice. The deceased died on the spot due to head injuries. 

Dowa Police Impounds Cannabis Transported in Jerry Cans

Police say Two Suspects Smuggled Indian Hemp in Cooking Oil Jerry Cans Were also Found with Two Sack Bags Containing the Illegal Herb

Two men who cleverly hidden Cannabis inside two cooking oil Jerry cans, have been caught by police in Dowa district.

The two suspects currently in police custody in Dowa, were also found with two sack bags containing Indian hemp as well, says Dowa Police Public Relations Officer Sergeant Richard Kaponda who identified the two as January Banda aged 26 from Kasiya village, T/A Wimbe in Kasungu district and Maxwell Phiri aged 32 from Ntupila village, T/A Kayembe in Dowa district.

The arrest happened on Tuesday 3rd March 2015 at Dowa roadblock when the two were on their way to Capital Lilongwe from Kasungu district.

The Police officer told this reporter that the two who were in a vehicle, were stopped at Dowa Police roadblock for normal inspection, however Police officers on duty were suspicious of two 20 litre Cooking oil Jerry Cans.

Sgt Kaponda

"At first Police thought they were carrying cooking oil, when the Jerry cans were opened, it was discovered that were full of Indian hemp"


Police say, the hemp is weighing over 150 kilograms.


"The confiscated cannabis sativa will soon be taken to Chitedze Research Station for testing, but the duo will appear in court soon to answer on offence of found in possession of Indian hemp." says Sgt. Kaponda

A Primary School Protests Over Dzaleka CDSS Closure Injures Two Passengers;

5 Protesters  Arrested

Sgt Richard Kaponda 

Umodzi Katubza Primary School Students at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa district went on run riot Monday morning and in the course injured two vehicle passengers and destroyed some school property.

The Primary school students also stoned their head teacher’s office before injuring the two vehicle passengers, Dowa Police Public Relations Officer told Malawi Voice. 

The riots were related to the temporary closure of Dzaleka Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) on Friday last week. Dzaleka CDSS was closed after students on Friday held protests demanding reinstatement of their Deputy Head Teacher a Congolese national who was teaching  Mathematics at the school. The employment contract of the said teacher  has not been renewed this year and the development has angered students .

On Monday, Sergeant Richard Kaponda said a nearby primary school students also went rampage because are angered with the temporary closure of Dzaleka CDSS and and very handful students from Dzaleka CDSS also joined pupils protests.

“The protests that started on Friday also happened today morning” said Sergeant Kaponda “The primary school students started throwing stones at their head teachers office saying they are deeply concerned that their brothers and sisters at Dzaleka CDSS are not learning.”

“When we were trying to calm down the situation, the pupils tried to runaway then closed Lumbadzi Dowa road. In the course of continuing throwing stones, they smashed front door glass of a vehicle coming from Dowa heading to Lilongwe. Two passangers were injured and were taken to Dowa hospital."

"As of now we have arrested five suspects"  The Officer said the suspects are a Form 2 student, two pupils of standard 6, one pupil of standard 5 and a standard 4 pupil. He said the students ages ranges from 14 to 18 but declined to name them.

The five have been leveled with charges of Malicious Damage and Asualt (Unlawful Wounding).

"The situation as of now is quet” He said but indicated that police are continuing with patrols around the area.

He said school officials from Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), Dzaleka Day Secondary School and the primary school as well as Camp Administrator and Police were in the day discussing ways of ending the riots.

Dowa Police Arrests 40 Ethiopians, 1 Malawian National for Aiding Illegal Entry

Dowa Police Arrests 40 Ethiopians, 1 Malawian National for Aiding Illegal Entry

Kaponda: stop aiding illegal immigrants

Police in Dowa District have arrested 40 Ethiopian nationals for entering the country illegally and a Malawian national has also been arrested for aiding them.

But a Malawian driver who was transporting these illegal immigrants is at large.

Police Public Relations Officer for Dowa District Sergeant Richard Kaponda says police managed to impound the vehicle transporting the illegal immigrants following tipoff from the members of the general public as police in the district were in a sweeping exercise.

Sgt Kaponda when confirming the development said the arrest was made in the dawn of Tuesday at Mbalame village along Dowa Lumbadzi Road.

“We have impounded a three ton Mitsubish Canter registration number MC 5278. Our investigations found that the owner of the vehicle is Thokozani Caria Msiska from Lilongwe” said Kaponda

“The vehicle carried 40 Ethiopians from Kasungu heading to Dzaleka refugee camp in Dowa. And we have also arrested a Malawian national Wiseman Ulambo aged 21 from Rufure village T/A Maulambya in Chitipa for aiding these people to enter the country without difficulties”

Sgnt Kaponda said police have charged the Ethiopians with charges of illegal entry and they are hunting to arrest the driver.

The officer urged Malawians to stop aiding illegal immigrants entering the country “It is not good to help illegal immigrants to enter the country, it is a bad development” he said, “This is because some of the illegal immigrants may bring weapons like rifles. Now we are talking about the deadly Ebola virus, it may happen that some of the immigrants have the disease”

Sgt Kaponda also advised members of the general public to continue informing police on any information that may assist police in arresting illegal immigrants and those that are aiding the practice.

Royal Family Member Hang Himself When Elders Fined Him K500

Royal Family Member Hang Himself When Elders Fined Him K500

Kaponda: the fine did not go well with the deceased

Police in Dowa district says a man hanged himself when disappointed with a K500 fine for being late at community fundraising farming.

Sergeant Richard kaponda Dowa Police Public relations Officer confirmed to FM 101 that the man aged 44 Harold Kang’oma from a royal family and used to perform village headman roles in the village has over the weekend hanged himself to a tangerine tree.

He said the deceased was fined K500 for being late at a fundraising farming activity meant to raise money for buying hoes to be used at the village graveyard.

Sgt Kaponda said the elders imposed the fine to the deceased for lesson to others.

“The deceased did not pay the imposed fine and was later on 3^rd January 2015 found dead hanging to a tangerine tree” said the police officer and said medical report indicates that the death was due to suffocation.

The deceased was from Chimgwetseni village of T/A Chiwere in Dowa district.

Brother, Sister Drown in the Dam.......Dowa Police urges General Public to guard their Children

Brother, Sister Drown in Dowa.......Police urge General Public to Keep Eye on their Children

Sergeant Richard Kaponda Dowa Police PRO

Police in Dowa district appeals to members of general public not to let children go for swimming or any dangerous places without a guardian.

The call follows drowning of two children over the weekend in the district near Dowa turn-off.

Dowa Police Public Relations Officer Sergeant Richard Kaponda says the two are brother and sister aged 11 and 10 respectively.

After attending to their farm, Sergeant Kaponda said the children went to swim at the dam leaving behind their mum who was still in the garden. 

“All were drown because they went to the deepest area of the dam.” He said 

“They were later discovered by some men who went into the waters to rescue them. They found them stuck into the mud and postmortem indicates that they died due to suffocation”

Sergeant Kaponda has identified the two as Blessings and Chrissy Kamwaza from Kamkwamba village of T/A Mkukula in Dowa.