In a remote area under Traditional Authority (T/A) Mponda in Mangochi District, a sense of fear and insecurity has gripped the community, following the vandalism of a police unit earlier this year.
The destruction of Katema Police Unit in March 2025 has left scores of people vulnerable to crime, with many wondering when the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
According to the police, the destruction of the police unit was a result of public anger after a local motorcycle (kabaza) operator was found dead on March 14,2025 at Kapako River in Belo Village T/A Mponda.
Police reported that the deceased had ferried two people from Mangochi and he was discovered dead after being stabbed and robbed off by the two “customers”.
It was also reported that villagers of Chilembwe and Katema stormed the police unit demanding the release of a suspected murder they claimed had been arrested with, as the police say, an intention to take the law into their own hands.
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According to the police, the people started destroying the facility and nearby police houses after they were told that no suspect had been arrested.
Since March 2025, the police unit remained closed leaving the communities around in need of security services.
Margret James, a resident of Mthiramanja, recalls the day her mother was brutally assaulted in her own home in July four months after the destruction of the facility.
She said the culprits were apprehended and taken to Chilipa Police Unit, but the officers refused to help, citing the destruction of the police unit as the reason.
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“They told us we were to blame for destroying our police unit,” James said, still reeling from the experience.
According to James, unavailability of the facility in the area is contributing to mob justice as some resort to punish suspects on their own.
The lack of access to police services has had a ripple effect on the community, with some business premises being damaged.
“We used to get services at Katema, which was near us. Now, we have nowhere else to turn,” Damien Scott of people owning a business centre said.
Scott said the vandalism of the police unit has also had an impact on the community’s assurance of security.
Junior Sanudi, a resident of Mtimabi, expressed his dismay at the destruction.
“Residents of Mtimabi noted the mistake people made by torching down the police unit, knowing it would affect many residents when it comes to security matters,” Sanudi said.
The consequences of vandalism are far-reaching, and the community is paying the price.
Saiti Abdullah Foster, Chairperson of Katema Village Development Committee, acknowledged the mistake and took steps to apologize to the Officer In-Charge of Mangochi Police Station.
“The officers who were living at the police unit were chased in a barbaric way, and their properties burnt to ashes. We found this unacceptable and decided to take action because we could not manage to live without security,” Foster said.
Katema Police Unit served a lot of people from areas of Mthiramanja, Lusewa, Khanga, Ngatala, Chiswe, Mitawa, Bango and many others.
The then spokesperson for the Malawi Police Service Peter Kalaya urged citizens to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
Kalaya, who received reports about the issue, expressed concern with continued cases of vandalism that negatively impact the quality of services.
“It is indeed true that as a service we are grappling with the issue of people taking the law into their own hands whenever they feel grieved by the way we are handling matters. Unfortunately, this ends up in them destroying or damaging their property which belongs to the government which in reality belongs to them.
“When they destroy property, it sets us back. Instead of expanding, we ended up replacing the damaged property,” Kalaya said.
He said at the moment the service has a lot of cases of vandalism that are being investigated.
It is on record that the destruction of public infrastructure is a blow to development, and the people of Mangochi are paying the price.
The lack of access to police services has created an environment conducive to crime, leaving residents vulnerable and fearful.
As the community struggles to recover from the devastating consequences of vandalism, it is imperative that we recognize the importance of safeguarding public infrastructure.
The police unit was not just a building; it was a symbol of security, a beacon of hope for a community striving for peace and stability.
The people of Katema and other surrounding areas deserve better.
They deserve to live without fear of crime, to know that their safety is a priority.
It is time for the community to come together to rebuild and restore the police unit, to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice, and to create a safer, more secure environment for all.
Vandalism has consequences, and it is the community that suffers the most. It is time to take a stand, protect public infrastructure, and build a brighter future for all.
The government and stakeholders must work together to rebuild and restore the police unit.
