Armed robbers hit Malawi Savings Bank in Thyolo
An armed robbery occurred in the morning of Monday at the Malawi Savings Bank (MSB) branch in Thyolo District.
Thyolo Police Station publicist Edith Likaka confirmed to Nyasa Times about the robbery and said police were investigating the incident.
Police could not immediately confirm the amount of cash the robber stole but said injuries were reported in connection with the robbery.
“We are carrying out extensive investigations into the matter,” Likaka said.
There has been a spate of armed robberies, targeting commercial banks, financial institutions and those keeping a lot of cash.
Some of the robberies have been reported to be an inside job.
Last year, Police in Machinga arrested Malawi Savings Bank branch manager for Ntaja, Charles Pinifolo, in connection with a bank robbery where K2.5 million was stole.
The bank manager was arrested alongside a commissionaire and two guards.
In parliament last week, Nsanje Central MP Francis Kasaila (DPP) asked Home Affairs Minister on what policy has government introduced in view of the rise in the number of armed robberies
Answering on behalf of Home Affairs Minister, the government’s House leader Henry Phoya said government is looking at the “issue of the proliferation of armed robberies which is being noticed in our urban centres.”
Parliament also learnt that police officers in some parts of the country are misinterpreting the recent lifting of the ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy by deliberately ignoring calls to deal with criminals.
The Inspector General of Police is taking the necessary measures to re-instil the spirit of professionalism within the Malawi Police Service.
“We feel that any professional police officer will not honestly misinterpret the new guidelines in the police service to mean that police officers should indeed ignore crimes when they are being committed on the ground that they are complying with his new directive.”
President Banda’s administration two weeks ago lifted the ‘shoot-to-kill’ directive issued by her predecessor, the late Bingu wa Mutharika last year.
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