Standard 2 pupil commits suicide in Ntcheu

A teenager was found hanging dead in a tree at Senzani Village in the area of Sub Traditional Authority Tsikulamowa in Ntcheu.

The police have identified the deceased person as Chimwemwe Khwinda, aged 14 years old.

Confirming the development, Ntcheu Police Station Public Relations Officer (PRO), Inspector Hastings Chigalu, said the boy, who was a standard 2 learner at one of the primary schools in the area on Tuesday morning left home for school.

Chigalu said it was alleged that the boy was reluctant to go and attend classes on this fateful day. 

"Looking as if he had taken heed of his mother's advice, the boy left home as if he was going to school, but it was shocking to discover his body hanging in a tree a short distance away from his school at around 10:00 hours," said Chigalu.

Postmortem conducted at Manjawira Health Centre revealed that death was due to suffocation secondary to strangulation.

The deceased, Chimwemwe Khwinda, hailed from Lunguzi Village in Sub-Traditional Authority Tsikulamowa in the district. 

Chigalu disclosed that the district has registered nine suicide cases from January to June this year compared to two which were registered in the responding period in 2020.

He further highlighted that most suicide victims do not share problems with others for help, hence they end up taking their own lives.

Meanwhile, police in the district are advising people to share their problems with others for a better solution rather than resorting to taking their own life. 

Man commits suicide over land disputes

A 44-year-old man in Dowa has committed suicide by hanging himself to a tree over disagreements on land issues.

The man, Mackson Dickson from Chatsunda Village in the area of Traditional Authority Kayembe in the district, had a  long outstanding and unresolved dispute over a piece of farm land with people of Mdewa Village.

According to Mponela Police Station Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Mcpatson Msadala, Dickson, claimed that the land belonged to his brother who was in Mchinji while people of Mdewa Village claim it was their land.  

Msadala further said on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, Dickson went and cut down a tree in the disputed farmland, but this did not please people of Mdewa who, in reaction, reported the matter to Chatsunda Village Headman.

The village headman set July 12, 2021 as the date for hearing of the case, however in the morning hours of the date Dickson was found dead.

The matter was then reported to Mbingwa Police Unit where Criminal Investigation Department (CID) police officers and medical personnel visited the scene. Postmortem conducted revealed that death was due to suffocation secondary to strangulation.

Chikwawa man jailed 14 years for defilement

Chikwawa First Grade Magistrate Court on Monday convicted and sentenced 43-year-old Wonderford Thamalaka to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour for defilement.

The court heard through Chikwawa Police Station Prosecutor, Sergeant Emmanuel Namarwa, that in April, 2021, Thamalaka had been indulging in sexual activities with a 12-year-old girl at Timbenawo Village in the district.

However, Thamalaka pleaded not guilty and denied the charge of defilement when he appeared before the court. 

The offence of defilement contravenes Section 138 of the Penal Code, as such, the state paraded four witnesses who testified against him.

In his submission, Namarwa prayed for a stiff custodial sentence to the accused considering that defilement is a serious crime.

Namarwa observed that cases of defilement in Chikwawa were on the rise, noting that a custodial sentence would deter other would-be offenders.

In mitigation, Thamalaka asked the court for a lenient sentence considering that he looks after his family besides paying school fees for his children who are in secondary school.

However, passing sentence, First Grade Magistrate Gladstone Chirundu, concurred with the state on the need for a stiff penalty for Thamalaka and therefore, slapped him with a 14- year custodial sentence with hard labour.

Thamalaka hails from Sande Village in Traditional Authority Maseya in Chikwawa.

Man jailed 20 years for raping 91 year old

The Senior Resident Magistrates Court in Dowa has convicted and sentenced a 25-year-old man, Thokozani Andrew, to 20 years Imprisonment with Hard Labor (IHL) for raping a 91-year-old woman.

Dowa Police Public Relations Officer, Gladson M’bumpha, told Malawi News Agency (MANA) that the convict committed the crime on September 9, 2020 at Kapilinga Village in the district.
“On the particular day the victim went to Mkanganya Forest to collect charcoal remains but suddenly the convict appeared from behind, grabbed and raped her.

“However, the victim tried to shout but the convict shut up her mouth and grabbed her neck saying he will kill her if she dares shout,” M’bumpha said.

The survivor then reported the matter to relatives who followed the issue and found the convict at his house wearing the same short he had put on while raping the victim.

M’bumpha said the convict was arrested by community policing members, who took him to police while the victim was referred to Dowa District Hospital for examination and treatment.

According to M’bumpha, the convict pleaded not guilty during court hearing and this made the state to parade witnesses which led to his conviction.

“Appearing before court, the convict pleaded not guilty to the charge of rape contrary to section 133 of the Penal Code. This prompted the State to parade four witnesses, leading to his conviction,” said M’bumpha.

In its submission, the State asked the court to give out stiff punishment to the offender, saying the offence is serious in nature and that the victim is too old for the act.

Passing sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Joana Kwatiwani concurred with the state’s submission for stiff punishment and sentenced the convict to 20 years IHL as a warning to others from committing similar offence.

Andrew comes from Kaziputa Village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Msakambewa in Dowa.

Source: Andrew Khabwira, Mana

Chinese national arrested for indecent assault in Nkhata Bay

Police in Nkhata Bay District have arrested a 51-year-old Chen Shiliang, a Chinese national for allegedly harassing two women sexually at China Civil Engineering Construction Cooperation (CCECC) which is implementing a water project in the district.

The women are Nellie Rashid, 24, from Machinga and Benezia Kadango, 26, from Dedza.

The two work in the company's cafeteria and reported that their boss, the chef  has been harassing them sexually by touching their buttocks and breasts while cooking, since May this year.

The matter was reported to the company's human resources manager, but Shiliang still did not change his behaviour. 

The matter was then reported to Nkhata Bay police who instituted investigations into the matter which led to the arrest of the suspect on June 28, 2021.

Shiliang has been charged with indecent assault.

Man jailed for wounding wife over K1,400

A 27 year old man in Dowa Evance Kachiputu has been convicted and sentenced to 42 months imprisonment with hard labor for wounding his 23 year old wife over K1,400 which she contributed to bank mkhonde.

The court through state prosecutor Sergeant Joseph Banda heard that the convict, on June 20 2021at Chiphika village in the district of Dowa unlawfully did grievious harm to her wife's left arm.

Appearing before court, the convict pleaded guilty to a charge of grievious harm contrary to section 238 of Penal Code.

In mitigation, the convict asked the court for leniency.

In his submission, state prosecutor Banda asked the court for stiff punishment, saying what the convict did was gender based violence.

Passing sentence First Grade Magistrate, Amran Phiri concurred with the state's submission for a stiff punishment hence sentenced him to 42 months imprisonment with hard labor as a warning to would be offenders.

Evance Kachiputu comes from Chiphika Village in area of Traditional Authority Mkukula in Dowa district

Man jailed for wounding wife over K1,400

A 27 year old man in Dowa Evance Kachiputu has been convicted and sentenced to 42 months imprisonment with hard labor for wounding his 23 year old wife over K1,400 which she contributed to bank mkhonde.

The court through state prosecutor Sergeant Joseph Banda heard that the convict, on June 20 2021at Chiphika village in the district of Dowa unlawfully did grievious harm to her wife's left arm.

Appearing before court, the convict pleaded guilty to a charge of grievious harm contrary to section 238 of Penal Code.

In mitigation, the convict asked the court for leniency.

In his submission, state prosecutor Banda asked the court for stiff punishment, saying what the convict did was gender based violence.

Passing sentence First Grade Magistrate, Amran Phiri concurred with the state's submission for a stiff punishment hence sentenced him to 42 months imprisonment with hard labor as a warning to would be offenders.

Evance Kachiputu comes from Chiphika Village in area of Traditional Authority Mkukula in Dowa district

Traditional Authority Makuta of Nkhotakota dies

The Ministry of Local Government regrets to announce the death of Traditional Authority (T/A) Makuta of Nkhotakota District.

T/A Makuta, born Shalimu Alumaza , died on Monday, 14th June, 2021 at his home in Nkhotakota after a battle with Pneumonia. 

The Chief was born on 12th August 1922 and served as Group Village Head Makuta before being elevated as Traditional Authority Makuta on 8th October 2016.

He is survived by a wife, 10 children and 55 grandchildren.

Burial of the remains of the departed T/A shall take place on Wednesday, 16th June, 2021 at his Makuta Headquarters in Nkhotakota. 

May the soul of Traditional Authority Makuta rest in peace.

Man jailed 24 months IHL for abduction, defilement

The Senior Resident Magistrate's Court in Dowa has convicted and sentenced a 32-year-old man to 24 months imprisonment with hard labour for the offences of child abduction and defilement.

The court through state prosecutor Sub Inspector Ezara Bakili heard that the convict Masautso Mc Joy between the months of July to October 2020 at Chikusa Village in Dowa District abducted a 17-year-old girl child to his home without the consent from her parents.

The court further learnt that the convict and the victim were in a love affair almost a year and in course of their courtship, it was found that the girl was pregnant since she was in Standard 8 and this happened due to closure of school because of Covid-19 pandemic.

After the re-opening of schools, the girl refused to go back to school after she discovered that she was pregnant and it was her mother who applied pressure on her to sit for Standard examinations without having knowledge that her daughter was pregnant.

State prosecutor Sub Inspector Ezara Bakili further told the court that after sitting for her examinations, it is when the convict abducted her to his home where the two started living as a family.

Later, a rumour broke that the girl was married and this prompted the girl's parents to withdraw her from the marriage, but two days later, the girl went back to the convict's house and this is when it was realized that she was expectant.

This led to the arrest of accused person and was cautioned and formally charge with abduction and defilement which he voluntarily admitted.

Appearing before court, the convict pleaded guilty to two charges of abduction and defilement contrary to Section 78 and 138 of the Penal Code respectively.

In mitigation, the convict asked the court for lenient sentence, saying he takes care of his old mother.

However, in his submission, state prosecutor Sub Inspector Ezara Bakili asked the court to mete out a stiff punishment to the accused person though he is a first offender.

Passing sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Cecilia Onsewa concurred with the state's submission and sentenced the convict to 24 months IHL for the count of defilement and 18 months IHL for abduction.

The sentences will run concurrently.

Masautso Mc Joy comes from Kamkosi Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chiwere in Dowa District.

Man gets 18 months jail term for stealing sheep

A 25-year-old man in Dowa District has been convicted and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a sheep.

The court identified the man as Petro Buleya from Mtanda Village in the area of Traditional Authority Msakambewa in Dowa District.

The Dowa First Grade Magistrate's Court through state prosecutor Sergeant Joseph Banda heard that the convict Petro Buleya on May 31 2021 at Mtanda Village in the district of Dowa stole one sheep valued at K60, 000.00 belonging to White Majamanda.

Appearing before court, the convict pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft of cattle contrary to Section 281 of the Penal Code.

This prompted the state to parade three witnesses, leading to his conviction.

In mitigation, the convict asked the court for lenient sentence.

Passing sentence, First Grade Magistrate Amran Phiri concurred with the state's submission for a stiff punishment hence sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour as a warning to other would-be offenders.