Malawi College of Medicine student gets  3 years jail for class breaking, theft

September 4, 2019 Owen Khamula - Nyasa Times 25 Comments

A third-year Malawi College of Medicine student has abruptly cut short his medicine studies after a court sentenced him to three years in jail with hard labour for breaking into his own library and stealing two sets of computers.

Convicted student Mtendere Gwanda

Public Relations Officer for Blantyre police Augustine Nkhwazi said the Blantyre First Grade magistrate sentenced Mtendere Gwanda on Tuesday.

Nkhwazi said Mtendere broke into the information, communication, technology (ICT) library at the College of Medicine on August 31 and stole two sets of HP computers and one central processing unit (CPU).

“This happened while students were preparing to go for holidays. Management discovered that Mtendere Gwanda broke into the library after all the students had gone on holiday,” said Nkhwazi.

He said the authorities at the college found out that it was Mtendere who stole the items through a cctv footage.

The police publicist said the management did not inform him about the issue when he was on holiday and waited for him until he came back to the campus after the holiday.

“After he was shown the cctv footage, Mtendere confessed to have broken into the library and stole the computers. The management ten called the police,” said Nkhwazi.

In mitigation, Mtendere said he was forced to steal because he had impregnated a fellow college student who needed help.

Passing judgement, First Grade Magistrate Tsoka Banda said Mtendere needed a severe punishment to deter other would be offenders.

Mtendere, 23, hails from Malonje village in chief Malemia’s area in Zomba.

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25 replies on “Malawi College of Medicine student gets  3 years jail for class breaking, theft”

  1. Facts of the case are all bare here: He confessed to his act of theft because he (in his thoughts) needed some money to help with a pregnancy. His lapse of moral judgement to help a situation should not be grounds for leniency. What should be grounds for leniency is the fact he admitted and confessed to his acts as reported here. Is he a first time offender? Has he at any other time displayed acts of moral incompetencies? What good does the society benefit by putting him away in hopes that he will reform? 3 years behind bars to contemplate on reforming? Really? When some are free walking the streets that have bankrupted the whole government. Give this kid a sentence however you want it but suspend it. Its just enough for him to rethink his acts. Trust me. He will be better off than putting him away? Why did the College wait until the Holidays were over to call for the police? Weren’t they supposed to notify the police of the break in and let the law enforcers do their job. Was the College playing victim and accessory in the crime? Is there a statue of limitation to reporting a crime of robbery or theft as is in this case? When did they find out that there was a break in and how long did it take them to report the case? What if it was a well known son of a prominent person where would that evidence be at as we speak? Let he who without fault condemn this kid and we all get a better society.

  3. Chaponda, Karim mbava inaba ndalama there are not in jail koma mwana uyu mukumuyipila mtima. Just shows kuti our justice sytem is very colonial. Why cant you book him for a rehabilitation session. Kumuphela tsogolo za ziii.

  4. Very sad story I cant imagine how the Devil can rob one his/her God given opportunity or gift in life. Somebody studying Medicine in Malawi? It’s not ordinary its something special BUT look what has happened I wish there could be an alternative punishment for him to complete his studies BUT now with criminal record hanging on his head the future looks groomy.

  5. Six Months would be better for this young man. As a parent who has gone through a lot, I greatly feel sorry for the parents who have been working tirelessly for this boy’s education. Authorities! please help this boy get out jail. Am sure he has learnt a bitter lesson. Anawa inu amadzaiwala msanga komwe achoka, please, please, forgive him. I rest my case, Concerned Mother of two.

  9. Osadanda man you will come back.chachikulu ndikuchepetsa kubako,or kusiya , Aliyese ndi wakuba koma kusagwidwa enafe nde sitinganene timapulumukira mulungu odziwa kuteteza koma chinyengo nde mchosayamba.mulungu akutetezere.

  11. Give him a second chance please please. He will never do that again. What he needs is counselling. Remember God is God of second chance. 3 years is just too much. Big thieves in Malawi are scot free. How can u do this2this young man?Killing his future like this? Who have never stollen b4?Apolisi amathamangira zinthu za zii ngati zimenezi. Ma Billion onse aja abedwa ku Malawi?Bwanji????Nkhanza. God is watching

    1. The School could have reasoned with him and see how he could have paid back than taking him to police. Akawonatu za Chasowa mwanayu

  15. Really, wasting your future because of a pc. If you had graduated a s a Dr you would have lots of opportunities to buy nice laptops than what you had stolen.
    Let me say this you are useless!! A shame to your parents too. Third year and now off campus in jail!

    1. Kkkk koma ya, school of medicine should train these youngsters on how to dilute their Libido during school time otherwise they are bound to cause havoc to female students.

      1. I think at each and every school there are rules that students do sign for on admission to these colleges and they really know what follows should they break these rules. Therefore, this student deserves a stiff punishment even more than 3 years. Treat him as a criminal not a student. Doctor impregnating a fellow doctor. Very pathetic. Sukulu siyinamuthandize. had it been that he graduated, he would be stealing medicines and hospital equipment. Let him rot in a cooler.

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