Five individuals have been arrested by police in Chikwawa, for allegedly stealing 930 litres of diesel worth over K1.7 million from the Conduril construction company, a contractor working on the Shire Valley Canal in the district.
According to Sergeant Dickson Matemba, the district’s police publicist, the suspects, identified as Domingo Mzungu (30), Enock Belena (21), Mustaf Siliya (35), Innocent Swachi (21), and Jimmy Mchiza (43), all hail from Traditional Authority Katunga in the district.
The police officers were conducting night patrols along the Kapichira road where the Conduril construction company is located when they intercepted a minibus, registration number TO 9507, carrying 32 Jerry cans full of the stolen diesel. The five suspects were arrested on the spot.
Police reports allege that the suspects confessed to receiving the diesel from a machine operator at the construction company who is now at large.
Meanwhile, the five suspects are expected to appear in court to answer charges of theft.
