Malawi Police arrest 42 ‘looters’ after Mzimba market fire

At least 42 people have been arrested for allegedly being involved in looting shops at the gutted Mzimba Market which has pushed off 400 vendors out of business and goods worth millions damaged on Sunday March 8 2015.

Mzimba market fire
Mzimba market fire

Mzimba Police Station spokesperson Gabriel Chiona has said that the suspected looters were arrested during the inferno and that they will appear before the court of law soon after investigations are over.

A security commentator Edward Mpanda observed that cases of looting or stealing property when an accident like fires occur are very common in Malawi as most often there is no security to check on the malpractice and that the case is so complex as everyone is seen as operating rescue services.

“It is bad, suffice to say, it is not easy to detect who is acting in good faith or taking advantage of the fracas so it is not just a matter of non availability of security but failure to trace a real owner of the goods or property being removed,” observed Mpanda.

Mzimba Market Working Committee Chairperson lamented that a considerable number of goods that could have been saved was looted during the fire

The District Commissioner Thomas Chirwa  said that the report he has is that power went off around  seven in the morning but that just after 10 minutes it was restored and some sparks were noticed at an electric pole which resulted in fire that spread to the shops and salons nearby before the whole market was under siege.

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patrick gomiwa
patrick gomiwa
9 years ago

Sorry,sorry !!

Aaron
9 years ago

I myself sport

kanyika
kanyika
9 years ago

Together we can rebuilt.. Pepani

nyasa boy
nyasa boy
9 years ago

Sokakwa awo chinthumwa chaphyerakumoza

mzamba wamkulu
mzamba wamkulu
9 years ago

very sorry indeed.

sodo
sodo
9 years ago

So bad

Andale sakhalitsa
9 years ago

Tavisuska, chomene kwa imwe wachimbwi binu wachimbira its like mwafwa kuwiri shame

Arthur G.M. Mtambo
9 years ago

THIS IS SAD INEED AND SORRY TO ALL INVOLVED IN THIS. ESCOM TRY TO CHECK THE CAUSE OF THIS.

Proff. Ngangabulawayo
Proff. Ngangabulawayo
9 years ago

Phepani chomene wangwa mose imwe mwakhwaskika na ngozi iyi.

juzi
juzi
9 years ago

Oops

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