Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Motorcycle Robbery and Assault in Dowa
Published on November 11, 2025 at 2:11 PM by Evance Kapito
A 32-year-old man, Thokozani Kamanja, from Dungamisa Village, Traditional Authority Mkukula in Dowa District, has been sentenced to 11 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Dowa First Grade Magistrate’s Court for robbing a motorcycle and assaulting its owner.
Dowa Police Station Public Relations Officer, Sub Inspector Alice Sitima, confirmed the development, saying the conviction followed an incident that occurred on September 21, 2025, when Kamanja and an accomplice, identified only as Peter, attacked and robbed Chisangalalo Matias, a motorcycle taxi operator.
According to State Prosecutor Constable McLean Chasweka, Matias was hired by the convict, who posed as a customer, to transport him and his friend from Nalunga to Rovimbi. Upon reaching Seko Bridge, the passengers asked to be dropped off. As the victim waited for payment, Kamanja pretended to reach for money but instead struck Matias on the head with a sharp object, rendering him unconscious.
The attackers dragged the victim into a nearby drain believing him dead and fled the scene with his Lifan motorcycle, valued at K1.3 million. Passersby later heard Matias’s cries for help and rushed him to safety.
Following investigations, police arrested Kamanja, who later confessed to the crime and disclosed that his accomplice, Peter, was still on the run.
In court, Kamanja pleaded for leniency, citing his family responsibilities. However, the prosecution urged the court to impose a stiff sentence, noting that the convict was already answering a similar case at Mvera Magistrate’s Court.
Concurring with the prosecution, First Grade Magistrate Yohane Nkhata handed down an 11-year custodial sentence with hard labour, emphasizing the need to deter others from committing similar offenses.
Meanwhile, in a related case, Mvera Second Grade Magistrate Charity Simwaka has sentenced Kamanja to an additional four years imprisonment for attempting to commit a similar crime within the same district.
Police say the stolen motorcycle has since been recovered at Linthipe 1 and positively identified by the owner.
