Malawi cop arrested over supply of guns to criminals: Two robbers nabbed in LL

Malawi Police in Blantyre have arrested a fellow officer in-charge of an armoury at Police Training School at Kanjedza on allegations that he supplied arms and ammunition to the recently arrested four suspected hardcore criminals.

According Nyasa Times sources in the police, the arrested officer is Assistant Superintendent, David Mkandawire who is head of armoury, firearms and ammunition department at Malawi Police Training School in Limbe.

Nyasa Times sources say the police officer is yet to be charged.

Police relations officer for the south, James Kadadzera referred the media to national police headquarters spokesman Nicholas Gondwa who asked for more time to investigate the matter.

However, colleagues of the said police officer confirmed the arrest on Thursday.

Police last week arrested suspected four hardcore criminals blamed for three murders and seven car thefts.

The four identified as as 23-year-old Dumisani Mvula, 38-year-old Chipiliro Gombwa, 35-year-old Dickson Magumbe and 29-year-old Andy Machinjiri have since been charged with murder and car thefts.

Police said a total of 239 live ammunition, a pistol and a pump gun were recovered .

Southern Region Police spokesperson, James Kadadzera, said some of the vehicles that the group is suspected to have stolen include a Mazda Bongo, whose owner was murdered, an MTL Toyota Hilux whose driver was killed, and a government Toyota Prado belonging to a Cabinet minister.

The arrest of the police officer comes at a time when the public have explained concern over the recruitment of police officers as they are not picked on merit but through nepotism and lack proper screening.

Meanwhile, Police in Lilongwe have arrested two suspected robbers who are said to have been terrorizing residents of Areas 25 and 49 between September and December last year.

Police have since recovered stolen property worth K2.5 million from the two.

According to Kanengo police spokesperson, Sub Inspector Esther Mkwanda, the men were caught on the 4th January at their house in Mgona Township after police investigations following tip-offs within the township.

He identified the suspects as Spacious Mphepo (19) and Harrison Fosi (20).

“The property that have been currently recovered amount to about K2.5 million and most of them are electronics such as smart phones, DVD Players, Computer laptops, Cameras, flat TV Screens and CPUs. Currently, some owners of the property have already started coming for identification,” said Mkwanda.

He said the suspects were taking advantage of the weekends, especially Sundays when most families go to church leaving no one to look after their houses.

Mphepo comes from Ngwale Village, T/A Kadewere in Chiradzulo district while Fosi hails from Magagula village, T/A Kwataine in Ntcheu district. –Additional reporting by Towera Nyirenda, Mana