Man Arrested in Neno After Attempting Su!cide in Shire River

Police at Zalewa in Neno District have arrested a 68-year-old man, Wikisi Kaliponda, for allegedly attempting to take his own life by throwing himself into the Shire River following a domestic dispute with his wife.

According to Neno Police spokesperson Rebecca Msoliza, the incident occurred on August 3, 2025, after police received reports that an elderly man had jumped into the river.

Msoliza explained that after throwing himself into the river, Kaliponda was swept by the current and thrown into a patch of reeds, where he started screaming for help. Upon hearing the cries, nearby residents rushed to the scene and found him stranded on a rock in the middle of the river.

Eyewitnesses reported that Kaliponda had earlier been seen drinking alcohol at a local market in Zalewa before the attempted suicide.

The incident comes just days after another man, 41-year-old Mark Shannon Munthali from Karonga, was found dead after also throwing himself into the Shire River, in an unrelated case. His body was discovered floating near Chimwambiya area and identified by his brother.

In response to the rising cases of attempted suicides, Msoliza urged the public to seek help when facing challenges rather than resorting to self-harm.

Kaliponda hails from Mpulula Village under Traditional Authority Nsamala in Balaka District. He is currently in police custody and is expected to appear in court soon to answer charges related to attempted suicide.