Marked for death! Malawi Police tells reporter Chinjeka ‘take care’

A criminal gang is said to have drawn up a list of people it is targeting to attack and murder, according to Malawi Police.

Police sources told Nyasa Times that they summoned award winning Nations Publications Limited (NPL) reporter Rabecca Chimjeka in good faith and cautioned her about the hit-squad.

“We shared with Rabecca on information we have gathered in our investigations where we have seen a list of people marked to be attacked by the gang. Her name is on the list and we decided to help her to be careful,” said a police officer who declined not to be mentioned as he is not authorised to give formal media interviews.

Police had to “advise” Chimjeka in the wake of their preliminary investigations on last week’s murder of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director of corporate affairs Issa Njauju.

Njaunju was found dead on July 4 2015 with his body half-buried near Lilongwe River and his Toyota Hilux double-cabin vehicle burnt to ashes behind the presidential villas in Lilongwe.

Police said no arrests have so far been made and that investigations were still in progress.

Nyasa Times understand the hit-squad is on a crackdown on those critical to the administration and even the people who are proactive in exposing vices such as corruption.

The gang will be targeting the critical media practitioners, Facebook users, civic groups and human rights activists.