Chiradzulu Court Jails Hospital Worker 10 Years for Stealing Medical Equipment and K63 Million
Published on January 7, 2026 at 10:34 AM by Evance Kapito
The First Grade Magistrate’s Court in Chiradzulu has sentenced Yamikani Mapapa to 10 years’ imprisonment after finding him guilty of stealing two medical diagnostic machines and K63 million from Chiradzulu District Hospital.
Mapapa was arrested in December last year following the disappearance of the machines between August and November.
The court heard that Mapapa sold the stolen machines for K5.3 million to a trader identified as Goba of Bangwe, in order to settle a personal debt of K5 million.
State prosecutor Peter Piringu told the court that although Mapapa pleaded guilty, he deserved a stiff sentence because he failed to safeguard government property and endangered the lives of many patients who depend on services at the hospital.
Delivering the ruling, First Grade Magistrate Smart Maruwasa sentenced Mapapa to five years’ imprisonment on each count, ordering that the sentences run consecutively, bringing the total jail term to 10 years.
