SEX WORKER FOUND DEAD

By Ezelina  Kalua

Police in Mzuzu have found a dead body in a room at Paris Bottle store on saturday.

According to the Mzuzu police Public Relations Officer, Maurice  Chapola, the deceased, Bertha mwamulika Banda was discovered dead in a room at Paris early hours of friday last week.

He further said, the deceased was drinking with  a man who is believed to be her customer. The man took her to a room where she was found dead. Police are investigating on the incident.

Meanwhile the body was taken to Mzuzu Central Hospital for postmortem.The deceased, Bertha Mwamulika  Banda, 22 hails from Kankhomba village T/A Kanyenda in Nkhotakota district.

MAN KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT

By Sandra

An accident in Mzuzu has claimed the life of a man in the early hours of yesterday at Lunyangwa bridge.

According to Mzuzu Police Spokesperson, Maurice Chapola, the man was driving Toyota Hilux Twin cab, registration number GG 1970, which was coming from Chiputula heading to the airport.

Chapola further said, the deceased Nelson Matope, Upon arrival to Lunyangwa bridge he  lost control due to over speeding and the car overturned into Lunyangwa river, the driver died on spot. Meanwhile police have not  yet finished their investigation on the matter.

Medical report which was conducted at Mzuzu central Hospital reviewed that  the deceased died due to suffocation.

HIGH SUICIDE RATE WORRIES NORTH POLICE

BY JOACKIM NTHALA

Police in the north have expressed concern over the growing number of suicide cases in the region; Northern Region Police Public Relations Officer Norah Chimwala confirmed the development.

Speaking in an interview, Chimwala said the region has registered eight cases of suicide so far this year.”This year the number of suicide is growing high compared to last year just because within two months we have reported eight cases, which is a very high number.”

However, Chimwala said that the police are trying the best to minimize such fatal behaviour in the region. “We [police] are sensitising the community on negative effects of committing suicide through police communities and victim support unit.”

At the same time, the police are encouraging the public not to commit suicide because it is not a solution to a problem.

BE CONCERNED WITH LIFE – NTONYA

BY JOACKIM NTHALA

The Malawi National Road Safety Council in Mzuzu has argued for the city’s bicycle business operators, known as sacramentos, to abide by the rules set by the National Road Safety Council.

This development comes after a meeting organized by the National Road Safety Council in the city.

Speaking in an interview, the council regional manager, Lenard Ntonya, ordered bicycle operators to follow the rules of National Road Safety Council so that accidents are reduced. To date, some bicycle operators have been neglecting the rules.

While commanding bicycle operators in the city to be more concerned with their lives, Ntonya said that “life is most precious than the money these people make.’’

Adding on the matter, deputy commissioner of police, Gertrude Kachinga, also instructed passengers to board bicycles with  all necessities. Furthermore, she thanked bicycle business operators for attending at the meeting in large numbers. At the  previous meeting, there were only nine people in attendance.

Also commenting on the matter, the new chairman for Bicycle Association of Mzuzu, Joseph Sitima, concluded that the association will aid the logical flow of information to help reduce accidents and unnecessary arrests by the Malawi Police Service.

MZUNI STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE AGAINST MSB

BY SYLVESTER SILOH KAPONDERA

Mzuzu University (MZUNI) students on Wednesday expressed their anger over Malawi Savings Bank (MSB) school fees procedures by blocking Mzuzu-Karonga M1 road and demanding money from vehicle owners using the road.

The incident came a few days after the bank issued fees to the students. While some students received half of the required money, other names were completely missing.

“Some have received the whole amount, while others have not. We are not happy with what is happening therefore we are [demonstrating] to let the government know,” said Nelson Selemani, one of the students.

The demonstration which started around 7:00 a.m. was cooled by the arrival of more than ten police officers an hour later. No one was arrested as the students ran away upon seeing the police vehicle.

Similar to this incident, barely three weeks ago the police came to the rescue of the school’s finance director – who was harassed by angry students on the campus over money issues.

MAN COMMITS SUICIDE

BY VIOLET CHAPONDA

A man in Chibanja has died suddenly after committing on Monday evening in Mzuzu, city police have confirmed.
Northern region public relations officer Norah Chimwala identified the deceased as Masaka Sande 43, of Muso 11 village T/A Ganya in Ntcheu District.

Chimwala said the wife of the deceased, Jane Phiri Sande 30, reported to the police that her husband died suddenly after committing suicide. She said that she found him hanging himself with a rope as she was coming from the toilet.

“People should find ways of solving their problems and not committing suicide as they will live their dependants with so many problems,” Chimwala said. She continued to said that whenever people have problems, they should come to police at Victim Support Unit (VSU) for counselling so that their problems should be dealt accordingly.

The PR expressed deep concern over the rising number of suicide cases in the northern region, she said that police have registered eight cases in the region.

A postmortem conducted revealed that the deceased died due to suicidal strangulation.

MAN DROWNS IN NKHATABAY BEACH

BY VIOLET CHAPONDA

One person has died after the boat that they were travelling in capsized in Nkhatabay Beach. Bad weather conditions are to blame for the incident.

Northern region public relations officer Norah Chimwala identified the deceased as Rodwell, 20. She said that Mr. Mike Phiri, 30 of Kanyoli Village T/A Makhambira in Nkhatabay District reported the incident to Nkhatabay police station.

Phiri said that the deceased, together with his fellow businessmen, bought usipa at Light Beach and then boarded a boat to ferry to Nkhatabay beach. When the boat capsized, the others managed to swim ashore.

Chimwala advised people not to go for fishing during bad weather conditions. Furthermore, she said that fishermen should make sure that their boats are in good condition before taking them to the lake.

A postmortem conducted by medical practioners revealed that Rodwell died as a result of suffocation.

POLICE ARREST ACB OFFICER OVER CHAMBA

BY: VIOLET CHAPONDA

Police in Mzuzu have arrested an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation officer for cultivating Indian hemp at his house in Katoto on Thursday.

Northern Region Police Public Relations Officer Norah Chimwala confirmed the arrest and identified the suspect as Kondwani Zulu 35 years, of Kansilanga village T/A Mzukuzuku in Mzimba who works at ACB’s regional office in Mzuzu.

“We have arrested the suspect for cultivating cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) of which eight plants were uprooted from his house which were cultivated together with tomatoes,” Chimwala said. She continued to say that the suspect told the police that he did not know that the plants were Indian hemp.

Police are therefore urging members of general public to report such cases if found and also know the type of plants surrounding their compounds because they might just be arrested when it comes to law.

Meanwhile the suspect has since been charged with the offence of cultivating cannabis sativa.

Man Arrested for Personating a Police Officer

BY VIOLET CHAPONDA

Mzuzu police are keeping in custody Blessings Shupo for being accused of personating a police officer.

Mzuzu Police Public Relations Officer Edward  Longwe  confirmed the arrest  saying the suspect  was arrested Friday night.

Longwe said that the suspect together with his friend, who is at large still, on Thursday went to the house of Mr.  Medson   Kazidona   a business  man  in  Chiputura  where  he  posed as Mr. Kayipa senior officer.

“They demanded  an amplifier which Mr. Kazidona had bought in which they claimed as stolen  from somewhere  and  demanded  k3500 and went  away,” said Longwe continuing to say that on Friday  Mr. Kazidona went to police to look  for  Mr. Kayipa where he discovered that they were thieves.  Investigations took place on the same day, which led to the arrest of the suspect.

Blessings  Shupo,  38,  hails from Mtambo village  T/A  Timbiri  in Nkhatabay  and he will  soon appear  in  court  to answer  charges of  personating  police  officer  and  theft.