194 Mzuzu residents robbed over Malawi Electoral Commission monitors’ job opportunity
Over 194 people have been robbed of their money in Mzuzu after four people who police have arrested poised to be officials of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and solisted money from them promising they would be employed as monitors.
Mzuzu police station spoke person sergeant Maurice Chapola has confirmed .
Chapola said his office has established that each Mzuzu city resident tricked was paying K500 and in total K78,300 .00 was raised from the people that they managed to deceive.
The news comes as job scarcity in Malawi has worsened and with the country holding the tripartite elections next year where constituents will vote for the state president, member of parliament and a councilor the fight for job opportunities has increased.
He identified the four arrested as Chingoli Chirwa 45 of Manolo village , T/A Timbiri in Nkhatabay District; Chimwemwe Gondwe 23 , of Katumbi village ,T/A Kafuzira in Nkhotakota District ; Gift Botha 18 of T/AChikulamayembe in Rumphi District and Edson Ulaya 22 of Mtanila village in the area of Traditional Authority Chakhaza in Dowa District.
The law enforcer said the four committed the offence between 04-06thAugust at Katoto Residential area .
Said Chapola: “ We arrested the four following a complaint logged by MEC on the same”.
According to Chapola, MEC received rumours that the suspects were receiving K500.00 from the residents who were eager to be employed as MEC monitors in the forthcoming tripartite Elections .
He said the said dates at around 09:00hrs, officials from the electoral board were out in hunt to establish the truth on the fast spread rumour . The law-enforcers’ Mzuzu police station’s spokesperson alleged that the suspected group was found busy obtaining money from the citizens .
“ It is also reported that amongst the suspects were a cashier and a photographer who was there to take Identity photos as they were reportedly cheated that they will be given MEC identity cards.”
The law-enforcer said the four have since being charged with the offence of obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to section 319(1) of the penal code.
He said police would parade the four to court soon and if convicted, would serve up to seven years imprisonment with hard labour.
Meanwhile, police is appealing to the residents in the city not to fall prey to such people who are taking advantage of the forthcoming Tripartite elections to achieve their interests by robbing them of their money .
Police further urges the residents to report such cases without delay.–MEC Stringers
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