A man and his wife in Mangochi District have died after being electrocuted while trying to rescue their child, who had become trapped by a live electric wire.

Mangochi Police spokesperson, Amina Tepani Daudi, said the couple died yesterday after suffering severe burns. The child is receiving treatment and is recovering at Mulibwanji Hospital in the district.

Tepani Daudi said the couple were living in a house where they had allegedly connected electricity illegally. The incident occurred when the electric wires came into contact with a clothesline.

According to police, the woman rushed to rescue her child after noticing that he was trapped by the live wire. She was electrocuted in the process. Her husband was also electrocuted when he attempted to save both his wife and child.

The deceased have been identified as Yasin Ibrahim, 58, and Annie Friday, 47, from Malowa Village in Traditional Authority Jalasi in the district.

Police have since warned the public against illegal electricity connections, saying the practice puts lives at serious risk.

Police in Monkey Bay have arrested one suspect in connection with a fraud case in which a young Airtel Money and Mpamba agent was robbed of K717,752.

Monkey Bay Police spokesperson Alice Sichali confirmed the arrest, saying the suspect was intercepted at Mtakataka Turn-Off Road after the victim reported the matter.

According to information gathered by Zodiak Online, the suspect, identified as James Alidi, allegedly posed as a fortune teller and approached the young woman at her shop. He reportedly convinced her that he had the ability to magically multiply her money.

Believing his claims, the woman handed over K717,752 to him. In return, Alidi gave her a black plastic sheet which he claimed contained the increased amount of money.

After he left the scene in a vehicle, the woman opened the plastic sheet and discovered that it contained only cut pieces of paper instead of cash.

She quickly informed a neighbour, who alerted police officers stationed at Mtakataka Turn-Off Road. The officers managed to intercept the vehicle and arrest the suspect.

Police say a search of the vehicle led to the recovery of amulets allegedly used in carrying out the scam.

Investigations are ongoing, and the suspect is expected to appear in court soon.

Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court has sentenced Odisi Kanjira, 52, popularly known as Savimbi, to three years imprisonment with hard labour for committing road traffic offences and assaulting law enforcement officers.

According to Mangochi Police spokesperson, Amina Tepani Daudi, on July 2, 2025, Savimbi approached a roadblock mounted by Immigration officers near Namitunda Estate along the Bakili Muluzi Highway, knocking down reflective cones and fleeing the scene.

“Upon his apprehension, the convict mobilised villagers armed with offensive materials and started inciting violent confrontation against the law enforcers, injuring one officer in the process,” Daudi said.

In Court, Savimbi pleaded not guilty to four counts, but seven witnesses testified against him, proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Savimbi hails from Saiti Kadzuwa Village, Traditional Authority Mponda, in the district.

A postmortem examination has established that a secondary school teacher who was found dead in Mangochi died as a result of drowning.

The deceased, identified as 35-year-old Alice Wiliat, was a teacher at Chiona Community Day Secondary School. She was reported missing on 11 December after leaving home to work in her maize field. Her body was discovered three days later floating in Mtemankhokwe Stream.

Police investigations revealed that on the day Wiliat went missing, the area experienced heavy rainfall, which caused the stream to swell and become hazardous to cross. Authorities believe she may have been swept away by the strong currents.

Following the postmortem conducted at Mangochi District Hospital, police have appealed to the public to take extra precautions during the rainy season. They have warned against crossing, swimming, or playing in swollen rivers and streams to avoid similar tragedies.

Wiliat hailed from Nkhwara Village in Traditional Authority Chakhadza, Dowa District.

Information reaching this publication indicates that Assistant Commissioner of Police Peter Kalaya, who has been serving as the national Police Public Relations Officer, has been transferred to Mangochi Police Station, where he will take up the role of Station Officer.

Sources say Kalaya’s transfer forms part of a broader restructuring exercise within the Malawi Police Service, with several more transfers expected to be announced in the coming days.

Face Of Malawi will keep you updated as developments unfold.

Source: Mibawa

Information reaching this publication indicates that two people, including a motorcyclist, were injured when a VW Golf Polo hit them at a roundabout in Mangochi District.

According to eyewitnesses, the vehicle struck the motorcyclist, causing the passenger riding with him to fall to the ground. The motorcyclist and his motorcycle were reportedly dragged by the vehicle for about 100 metres from the point of impact.

Mangochi Police Spokesperson Amina Tepani Daudi said investigations into the incident are underway.

Meanwhile, traffic police confirmed that the driver of the vehicle was also taken to hospital after being assaulted by members of the public following the accident.

More details to come..

Source: MBC

First Grade Magistrate Roy Kakutu has sentenced Rashidi Sojola Alidi, 20, to 9 years imprisonment for abducting and sexually molesting a 13 year old girl.

According to Mangochi Police assistant PRO, Maybe Chombo, Alidi lured the victim to an area called “Bwalo la ndege” in Mangochi where he sexually assaulted and had unprotected sex with her twice.

Alidi denied the charges placed against him, but the state prosecutor brought up evidence which the Magistrate concurred with.

Alidi, hails from Chipalamawamba Village from Traditional Authority Mapira in Mangochi and has been sentenced to 108 months in prison for having sexual intercourse with a minor and 18 months of imprisonment for child abduction.

Unknown people have damaged the vehicle of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Eastern Region Vice Chairman as he was returning from welcoming President Lazarus Chakwera at Mbalula.

The incident occurred around 7 PM last evening evening in M’baluku, just outside Mangochi town, shortly after the President had passed by.

According to eyewitnesses, including the vehicle’s owner, Hassan Chikuta, the assailants used stones to smash the rear window and damage the side of the Mazda Bongo van.

More details to come..

Police in Mangochi on the evening of 18 August 2025, arrested four men and one woman for possessing liquid petroleum without a permit during an intelligence-driven operation targeting illegal fuel trading within the township.

The suspects have been identified as Bizwick Buli, 28, Mponda Moffat, 48, Dickson January, 41, Jamilah Nuru, 20, and Chisomo Gondwe, 46.

The operation, led by Mangochi Police Officer-in-Charge Mr. Limbani Bekete, Assistant Commissioner of Police(ACP), was aimed at curbing the rising trend of illegal fuel trading, which negatively affects the country’s economy and national security. An ad-hoc roadblock was mounted at Villa Tafika Roundabout, leading to the arrests.

Buli was intercepted in a 2-ton Toyota Dyna, registration number MH 11073, with 650 litres of fuel concealed under groceries. Moffat was found with 410 litres in an unregistered 5-ton truck heading to Makanjira, while his passenger, January, possessed 120 litres of petrol.

Jamilah was intercepted with 50 litres of petrol on a motorcycle, while Gondwe was caught with 500 litres of diesel in a Toyota Hilux double-cabin, registration number KA 8285 A. All suspects were heading from the main roundabout towards the Bakili Muluzi Highway.

Police in Mangochi have arrested two men for being found in possession of a live pangolin, a protected species under Malawi’s wildlife laws.

The suspects have been identified as Andrew Kombo, 33, and James Wilson, 55.

The duo were arrested on the evening of 10 July 2025, at Ntagaluka Village, under Traditional Authority Chowe in Mangochi.

Reports indicate that on the said date, Mangochi Police detectives were tipped off by members of the community that two men were in possession of a live pangolin and were offering it for sale.

Acting on the information, police officers, in coordination with officials from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, rushed to the scene and apprehended the two suspects after they were found with the live pangolin hidden in a black laptop bag.

According to statistics, from January 2025 to date, this is the first case of Pangolin (two suspects) to have been registered, compared to three cases (three suspects) recorded during the same period last year.

Police findings attribute the reduction in wildlife-related offences to increased community awareness, effective intelligence gathering, strong relationships with community members, imposition of stiffer penalties, and enhanced inter-agency collaboration between the Police, Wildlife and Judiciary departments.

The suspects will appear before court to answer a charge of illegal possession of specimens of listed species, contrary to Section 110(b) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act, once all documentation is completed.

Police in Mangochi have since warned the public against engaging in the illegal trade of wildlife and have called for continued cooperation in protecting endangered species.

Kombo hails from Khuyu village, Traditional Authority Mkumba in Likoma while and Wilson comes from Mtiwule Village, Traditional Authority Makanjira in Mangochi.

The Malawi Liverpool Wellcome (MLW) Research Programme has stated that one of the biggest challenges in health reporting is the lack of trust between journalists and researchers.

MLW’s Public Engagement Specialist, Rodrick Sambakunsi, stressed that media professionals also struggle to access scientific information and explain complex research in a way that the public can understand.

To address this Challenge, MLW has launched its 2025–2026 Journalist in Residence (JIR) workshop. This initiative is part of its Health Research Reporting programme, which aims to build stronger skills among journalists when it comes to reporting medical and scientific stories.

Currently, media experts including reporters, editors, and consultants are attending training sessions in Mangochi district alongside MLW staff.

Discussions are underway on how the JIR programme can help the media report more accurately and clearly on health issues.

The goal of the JIR programme is to make sure journalists can understand, interpret, and share research findings with the public in a way that is both simple and correct.

There was a heavy police presence in Mangochi today as the group Citizens for Credible Elections prepared to stage a protest. The demonstration aims to pressure Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) officials Annabel Mtalimanja and Andrew Mpesi to resign.

Protesters accuse the two of blocking election stakeholders from inspecting Smartmatic voting machines ahead of the September polls.

Uniformed officers with guns were stationed roughly every 100 meters, with patrol vehicles also visible throughout the township.

Surprisingly, the protest route stretches only 500 meters—from the Mangochi Police Station to the District Commissioner’s office.

Locals noted that previous protests covered longer distances, but new restrictions were introduced following Monday’s demonstrations.

More details to come…

With only 85 days left before Malawians vote on September 16, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has teamed up with the Malawi Police Service (MPS), Malawi Defence Force (MDF), Immigration department and Prison Services (PS) to form a Joint Electoral Security Taskforce.

This special taskforce will work together to keep peace and order across the country during the election period.

Speaking at a meeting in Mangochi on Monday, MEC Chairperson Anabel Mtalimanja said it is very important for all security agencies to work as one team. She said this will help them avoid doing the same work twice and make their efforts stronger.

Inspector General of Police Merline Yolamu also gave her assurance that the security team is well prepared.

“We’ve looked at possible problems and have set up Joint Operations Command Centers to help us work better together and stay ready,” she said.

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has today on 29 May 2025, started the last phase of voters inspection exercise which will take place from 29 to 31 May, 2025 as one way of preparing for the general elections on 16 September this year.

This final round is happening in six districts, Mangochi, Lilongwe, Mzimba, Mwanza, Chikwawa and Nsanje. MEC’s spokesperson, Sangwani Mwafulirwa has asked all registered voters in these areas to check their details to avoid any inconveniences on the election’s day.

According to Sangwani  the process is very important as it helps to correct mistakes earlier and avoid challenges during the voting day.

Sangwani has assured voters to verify their details at the registration centers or by using USSD code on their mobile phone.

African Parks, in collaboration with Honey with Heart, is promoting beekeeping in communities surrounding the Liwonde Wildlife Reserve and Mangochi Forest Reserve. The aim is to reduce deforestation and protect wildlife around those forests.

Clement Mnandi, a senior official at Honey with Heart, cited that between 2019 and 2024, they distributed 700 beehives to 300 beekeepers. Currently, there are 789 active beekeepers around the Liwonde and Mangochi reserves.

One of the beneficiaries, Siginala Yusuf from Minyanga Village under Traditional Authority Jalasi in Mangochi District, said his income grew from K250,000 in 2019 to K1 million by 2024 through beekeeping.

In addition to beekeeping, other initiatives being promoted include goat farming and chili pepper cultivation. According to Shaibu Kadewere, the manager of Liwonde Reserve, these activities are helping to create employment for local communities and fund education for underprivileged students.

African Parks took over the management of Liwonde Wildlife Reserve in 2015 and Mangochi Forest Reserve in 2018.

Police in Monkey Bay have arrested 68 year old Welemu Mapepa for allegedly having sexual intercourse with two girls aged 8 and 9.

Spokesperson for Monkey Bay Police Alice Sichali said the suspect, on 21 April, called the victims to help him do the household chores at his house.

She says after they were done with the chores, the suspect gave them a phone to watch cartoons.

“Later he undressed them one by one and defiled them. The victims went to the lake where they explained their ordeal to their friend who took them to their parents who reported the matter to us,” said Sichali.

Results from Cape Maclear hospital indicated that the victims were defiled, hence the arrest of the suspect.

The suspect is expected to appear before court soon.

The Mangochi District Council says it is still waiting for musician Patience Namadingo to follow through on his promise to repair ambulances at Mangochi District Hospital, as agreed last week.

District Commissioner Davie Chigwenembe stated that he had instructed Namadingo to provide a formal letter outlining key details: when the repairs would be done, who the mechanic would be, and where the work would take place. He noted that this information should have been confirmed before any approval was granted for Namadingo to proceed with the repairs.

Chigwenembe’s comments come after Namadingo announced publicly that he would no longer be repairing the ambulances, opting instead to use the funds to construct a classroom block at Wataka Primary School in Machinga District.

According to the council, they only learned of Namadingo’s change of plans through media reports. The musician did not officially inform the council of his decision, and as far as the council is concerned, they are still waiting for Namadingo to proceed with the repairs, whose cost has already been determined.

Last week, the council had stated that it could not immediately authorize the repairs until it had reviewed relevant regulations. However, it has now indicated that it would prefer for Namadingo to go ahead with the ambulance repairs if possible.

Chrissy Paulo, a commercial sex worker from Mangochi district, has been discharged by the First Grade Magistrate Court sitting in Mangochi after State witnesses failed to appear in Court.

Chrissy was accused of acts intended to cause grievous harm when he bit off her boyfriend’s fingertip in a fight.

Chrissy Paulo had been cohabiting with her boyfriend, who was initially a client for eight months. He later left her abruptly. Since the boyfriend left her with no money, she decided to find a client to get money for that day.

When she brought the client home, the boyfriend, who had spent several days away, showed up at the house and sat on the veranda. This forced Chrissy to send the client away, hoping the boyfriend would give her money for food. Unfortunately, the boyfriend, who spent the night, did not provide any money.

On the 1st of January 2025, the boyfriend left again. When Chrissy asked him for money, he refused to give her any. This forced Chrissy to go to the trading center to find another client. The boyfriend left behind a hoodie, which Chrissy wore.

Whilst on her way to her house with the new client, she met the boyfriend on the way. They started fighting on the spot since the boyfriend was forcefully asking for his hoodie back. As both parties were intoxicated during the fight, the boyfriend nipped Chrissy’s ear. In trying to defend herself, she bit the boyfriend’s finger, and a tip came off. Following this incident, she was arrested and charged with the offence of acts intended to cause grievous harm.

After the story of Chrissy Paulo circulated on social media, Senior Legal Aid Advocate Upile Mapata visited her in prison. Chrissy expressed her intention to be represented by Legal Aid Bureau.

Since January 2025, Chrissy’s boyfriend has failed to show up in Court despite being summoned several times to give his testimony. This prompted the Legal Aid Bureau through Counsel Mapata to applied for a discharge of the accused person because the Complainant failed to appear in Court to give testimony.

In his ruling, First Grade Magistrate Roy Kakutu agreed with the defence that the continued incarceration of the accused person was tantamount to her being punished without being found guilty, even though she has a right to be presumed innocent.

He further stated that it was clear the Complainant was not interested in continuing with the matter, and for that reason, Chrissy was discharged. The State has been informed that they do not intend to recommence the matter, it will operate as an acquittal.