9 more arrested over Nkhata Bay murder

Police in the Northern Region are leaving no stone unturned in their hunt for suspects wanted in connection with the killing of two elderly people on allegations of practising witchcraft in Mpamba area, Nkhata Bay.

Northern Region Police deputy spokesperson Maurice Chapola said, in the last 48 hours, police have rounded up nine more suspects.

“We will not identify the suspects by name because that may jeopardise our investigations. What Malawians should know, though, is that we have arrested nine people in connection with the issue.

The suspects are in custody at Nkhata Bay Police Station.

“This means the number of suspects that have been arrested has risen to 10,” Chapola said.

Chapola further said the suspects had been charged with murder, which carries the punishment of life imprisonment or death.

“We are progressing with the case that was committed in NKhata Bay, where two elderly people were killed by an angry mob that suspected that the two were practising witchcraft. We will arrest more suspects because, we believe, many people took part in the malpractice and we will take them to court soon,” Chapola said.

The suspects are within the age range of 19 to 35 years— all of whom are from Traditional Authority Timbiri’s area in the lakeshore district.

The victims— 65-year-old Chimono Kamanga and William Kamanga, whose age is not known— were killed on allegations that they, through witchcraft, ‘killed’ 35-year-old Leonard Kamanga on December 28 last year.

On Monday, police arrested 19-year-old Lovemore Phiri in Nkhata Bay in connection with the case.