Woman Found Half-Naked After Alleged Drugging and Rape in NKhotakota

Police in Nkhotakota District are investigating a case in which a 21-year-old woman was allegedly drugged and raped by unknown individuals while travelling with her three-year-old daughter.

According to Nkhotakota Police public relations officer Chisomo Chuma, the incident is believed to have occurred on March 6, 2026, when the woman left her home in Dowa Boma with her child to visit her parents at Mchirawapulura Village near Chezi in the same district.

Chuma said the victim boarded a white Toyota Probox public service vehicle which already had four passengers on board.

“Upon reaching Chezi, the victim became suspicious when the driver failed to stop as expected and instead increased the vehicle’s speed while turning up the volume of the radio,” she said.

She added that two passengers then moved closer to the woman, grabbed her and produced two glass bottles containing unknown liquid substances.

“The suspects allegedly forced her to drink the liquid while threatening to kill her if she refused,” Chuma explained.

After drinking the substance, the woman reportedly became dizzy as the vehicle continued towards Mvera Trading Centre. She later became extremely drowsy and eventually lost consciousness.

The victim only regained consciousness the following day at around 4:00 AM when well-wishers found her half-naked along a path leading to Liwala Graveyard within Nkhotakota Trading Centre, together with her daughter.

The matter was reported to Nkhotakota Police Station, and the victim was referred to Nkhotakota District Hospital for a medical examination, which confirmed that she had been raped.

Police have since launched investigations to identify and arrest the suspects involved.