Izeki and Jakobo arrested over gun

Multi-award winning comedians John Nyanga and Eric Mabedi, alias Izeki ndi Jakobo, were detained by Zomba Police on Saturday for being found in possession of a 0.22 Calibre Air-gun.

The two could not have wished for a worse time for the incident as it was their first public performance since Izeki announced his return to drama.

The comedians, both 49, met their fate on Saturday afternoon when they were performing at Chinamwali in Zomba during the Malawi Association of the Deaf (Manad)-organised International Deaf Week.

It all started when one of the actors in the comedy, Frank Mbewe, who was starring as a Police officer, stormed the stage with a gun.

When Police officers quizzed him on how he was found in possession of the gun, Mbewe referred the officers to the duo.

The Police officers confiscated the gun and after discussions with the comedians, the comedians were allowed to proceed and use the gun in the comedy on condition that they reported to Zomba Police after the function.

They questioned the duo on how they acquired the contested “toy gun.”

It was later established that what the two were using was indeed a real gun and not a “toy gun” as the two claimed.

Later, the Police released the two but withheld the gun.

Speaking after giving their statements on how they were found in possession of the gun, Mabedi maintained that the gun was a “toy gun” because all along they have been using it solely for the purpose of acting.

Mabedi said they acquired the gun between 1989 and 1990 and since then, they have been using it as part of their costume in play scenes that required the use of a gun.

“We have been i n possession of the gun since that time and we have been using it in our plays as part of our costume and no one has ever questioned us about it,” said the actor.

Reacting to their detention, Nyanga said he was not bitter with the Police as the officers were simply doing their work.

“We are okay with that treatment because as Police officers they were only doing their work of ensuring that there is security in this country,” said Nyanga.

Monday morning, the duo was summoned once again to Zomba Police and they were released on Police bail around lunch.

They were charged with Possession of an Illegal Firearm.

Southern Region Police Public Relations Officer Thomeck Nyaude confirmed they had summoned the comedians after detaining them on Saturday.

“It is true we detained them and we have summoned them again. The two had a real rifle and so they have been granted bail and will appear in court soon” said Nyaude Monday.