Mzuzu Police Arrest Chipiku Plus Manager, Five Others For Hoarding Sugar
Published on June 6, 2025 at 9:24 AM by Edgar Naitha
Mzuzu Police have arrested six people, including the manager of Chipiku Plus, for engaging in unfair trading practices involving the illegal hoarding and resale of sugar.
The suspects, including 31-year-old Kettie Mzembe—the store’s manager—were apprehended on the evening of June 5, 2025, at around 8:30 p.m., according to Mzuzu Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Inspector Cecelia Mfune.
Police say the arrests followed a tip-off from concerned citizens who reported suspicious activity at the store’s back entrance. Investigators discovered that bales of Illovo sugar were being secretly loaded onto vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles, despite earlier claims by management that the product was out of stock.
“At around 3 p.m., the manager informed customers that the shop had run out of sugar,” said Inspector Mfune. “However, by 8:30 p.m., officers caught staff members covertly moving sugar bales out of the back store.”
Authorities managed to recover four bales of sugar during the operation. All six individuals have been charged with engaging in unfair trading practices under Section 51(d) of the Competition and Fair Trading Act.
They are expected to appear in court once all necessary procedures are completed.
