Business owners in Limbe feel insecure with armed robbers: Blame Malawi Police
People plying their business in Limbe, Blantyre, have expressed worry over how the Malawi Police Service (MPS) is working in protecting their businesses and lives.
This comes days after a daytime burglary which saw armed robbers stealing cash amounting to K2.5million belonging to one businessman last week Tuesday.
An eye witness who did not want to be mentioned told Nyasa Times that the robbers, who were using a Toyota Carina, white in colour registration number NU 3474, hit the shop and demanded the owner to surrender all money he had at midday.
“Everyone just stood there watching as the man was getting robbed. No one could act because the thieves had three guns with live ammunitions,” claimed the eye witness.
He said after the thieves left the scene, a CID officer arrived at the scene five minutes after and asked the businessman to go with him to police station before he asked what happened.
“I mean what kind of policing is that? He was aware of whatever was happening,” he said.
Another eye witness by the name of Mavuto Banda expressed shock as to how such robbery would happen during daylight and the security authorities doing nothing.
“This is a very busy place, Limbe Police officers are all over the place, but the thieves took their time, without police coming to the rescue, there should be a connection between these people and some police officers,” Banda alleged.
One businessman, who only identified himself as Patel, told Nyasa Times they were afraid of their lives as they don’t know who to trust, wondering what would happen by the end of the day.
Patel shared the same sentiments with Banda, suspecting some police officers were connected to the ongoing armed robberies which are happening in the city as some of the robbers are using police uniform and guns.
He cited an incident where one robber accidentally dropped live ammunition which had an identity of the MPS.
Recently, another businessman was robbed of cash worth millions of Kwacha as he was closing his shop around 5pm. Another Malawian of Indian origin, who trades in Limbe, was also robbed his brand new range rover at gun point.
Few months ago, a businessman of Chinese origin was also shot dead by armed robbers in Mapanga, few kilometers away from Limbe.
But the authorities have assured the business community that the police will make sure that there is maximum security to protect their property and lives.
Chifundo Chibwezo is spokesperson for Limbe Police publicist and in a telephone interview with Nyasa Times, she said: “We’re doing everything possible to protect everyone doing business in the country and our appeal to the public is that they should report to police any criminal act.”
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