Cop killed during fracas between police and armed robbers
“Upon reaching Chanco, the armed robbers blocked the van carrying cash.”
A plain-clothed police officer has been accidentally killed in Zomba during an operation where officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) tried to intercept armed robbers who were trying to hijack a vehicle carrying salaries for Gibs Security Company.
The officer died after he was shot as the police and the bandits engaged in heated battle as the law enforcers took aim to abort the robbers’ scheme.
According to Eastern Region Police publicist, Joseph Sauka, a team of nine police officers was following up on a tip that the suspected armed robbers were plotting to rob off the van, which was heading to Chancellor College (Chanco) to make payments to security guards deployed at the institution.
Sauka said: “Upon reaching Chanco, the armed robbers blocked the van carrying cash, forcing the police officers who were trailing the robbers to start firing shots at the armed robbers.”
“However, one shot accidentally landed on a fellow police officer, Chawanangwa Mkandawire, who was pronounced dead upon arrival at Zomba Central Hospital.”
Meanwhile, the officers managed to arrest the five suspected armed robbers who are currently in custody at Zomba Police Station.
The five suspects will appear in court soon.
Of late, there has been a spate of armed robberies in the colonial city of Zomba where people have been robbed at gun point especially in hospitality places such as lodges and rest houses.
Earlier this week, a couple who were raided by a gang of armed thugs while sleeping in one of the accommodation service providers in the city shared their excruciating ordeal on social media platforms.
Sounds like poor training to me. To shoot one of your own officers when you have an isolated incident at a distance, with no death or injury of robbers, shows trigger happy police with no proper positioning. It’s not expensive to practice these scenarios and use proper procedures. These things happen, but needs to be investigated and training done to prevent this in future.
Komanso Ma company achimalawi tiyeni tiphunzire kutsata njira zamakondo zolipilira anthu. Kuli ma bank,ma mobile money services why kuwalandilitsa anthu ndalama pamanja?
2021 salary anthu akulandilabe pamanja?
So you rescued some cash meant for some alonda salaries and sacrificed a human life! You call this a successful operation? Shame on you! These security companies make a lot of money, and they were well capable of replacing the stolen money. After all how much do guards earn? My thoughts go to the family of the deceased policeman. Now his wife and kids are orphaned. They may leave the city and start a gruelling life in the village. Kids will miss their school and their friends. They didn’t deserve this. And in this day and age, why transport salaries… Read more »
Anayamba kuwawerenga pakanthawi kuti they move cash for salaries with scanty security. Why not making the payments electronically (banks, Airtel money, mpamba etc)? That method they have been following, of moving cash on designated pay days, always attracts robbers; remember that, back then, teacher salaries cash in transit (which was normally moved by bursars) at various govt school fell victim to robberies in a similar way…
U policemen sometimes u target each other because of the hatred towards one another. U claim to be an accident that’s totally a lie, this was premeditated plan to kill the innocent guy bcoz he could be the one coordinated to corner these criminals as he was CID. Some of you were part of these criminal gang but hiding in police uniform. U need to investigate this shooting and not make quick conclusions that it was an accident. Why dont u kill those armed gangs who were shooting at you instead of your fellow law abiding citizen. Am not convinced… Read more »
Corruption in the police is endemic (and Chakwera not doing anything about it). Many of them are criminals who also receive a top up from tax payers. I guess there is no evidence for what you say, but it shouldn’t surprise anyone if it is true.
The story is incomplete.Was killed officer passing by or they were on together.
Kudos to MPS for a job well done n my deepest condolences to the MPS for the accidental shooting of a fellow officer n to the Mkandawire family, I say God should console, strengthen you all during this difficult times. To families who fell victim to these thugs, keep on trusting the Lord because He is able. He doesn’t slumber, His Grace is sufficient at all times
This is very disappointed issue. Let me talk reality, this is because of some of the officers on the borders post, they allow the people to buy the route to RSA. Those people you allowing them to pass without any identification, they’re some of them they buying dangerous wipons and make a business by selling them. For instance, there’s a lot of transporters, they don’t offload their goods, that’s where they hiding the wipons.
Pepani kwambiri. Mzimu wake uwuse mumtendere.