Malawi Police arrest 8 over attacks to Burundian traders in Mozambique

Malawi Police have said it has made arrest of eight people following fracas at a Tsangano Turn-off, about seven kilometres from Ntcheu Boma on the Ntcheu-Lilongwe stretch of the M1 Road.

On Monday  some Malawians reportedly reacted to the apparent detention of a boy from Malawi who had crossed to the nearby Mozambique side to visit a Burundian shop owner there.

Malawian police spokesperson Nicholas Gondwa said a total of eight  suspects were arrested after they  allegedly went ahead to demolish a house and  looted not only the Burundian’s shop but also targetted several other shops in the area and later returned to the Malawian side with the loot.

Gondwa said there were “ugly scenes” at at Tsangano, a trading centre which lies on the border between Malawi’s Ntcheu district and Mozambique’s Tsangano district in Tete Province but the  joint operation with their fellow law enforcers in Mozambique brought the commotion to an end.

He also confirmed that a Malawian boy has since been rescued.

“We will find out what happened for the Burundian trader to kidnap a boy from Malawi and in the process ignite the confrontation,” said Gondwa.

Tsangano Turn Off  which separates Malawi and Mozambique is an almost irresistible stopover for travellers wishing to buy vegetables and potatoes.