Students swindled K5 million in Mzimba
Malawi Police in Mzimba are looking for criminals who have swindled students of over MK5million in traditional Authority Kampingo Sibande, Chindi and Khosolo, alleging to recruit them as security officers to protect albinos in the district.
Mzimba Police Station Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police Louis Chigadula on Tuesday, said the con-men are using Airtel and TNM numbers to call chiefs and to inform them about their exercise.
Chigadula said the thugs are alleging that they have been sent by Inspector General of Police to register students with Junior Certificate and Malawi School Certificate of Education to be trained as security officers to protect albinos in their areas.
Chigadula said the thugs were instructing each of the students to deposit money amounting to MK7500 via Mpamba and Airtel Money in order for them to be recruited in the exercise.
Chigadula said “We got communication that there are unknown people who are calling chiefs to register names of students with JC and MSCE to be recruited as security officers for albinos and these people have already collected money of over MK5 million from the three Traditional Authorities.
“However, as police in Mzimba we would like to inform the general public that there is no one who has been assigned by Inspector general to recruit people and tell them to pay MK7500. Police follows the normal right procedures when recruiting its officers.”
When contacted, Traditional Authority Kampingo Sibande said he was aware of the issue.
Kampingo Sibande said “Am aware of the issue, we got communication to submit 35 names of youth per Group Village Headman for the exercise. For now, it is difficult to trace the number of youths that deposited money to the said airtel money or Mpamba accounts.”
