mchinji – Face of Malawi

Gunmen Kill One, Steal Motorcycle in Mchinji

Edgar Naitha — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:13:42 +0000

Police in the Central West Region have launched a manhunt for four armed suspects who allegedly shot dead one man, injured two others and stole a motorcycle during an attack in Kazyozyo area of Mchinji.

According to Central West Region Police spokesperson Foster Benjamin, the three victims were travelling from Kasungu to Mchinji when they were ambushed near Estate Number 68.

Benjamin said the assailants allegedly opened fire on the group, killing one of the travellers on the spot and injuring the other two before fleeing with their motorcycle.

During the incident, the suspects reportedly left behind a 90-kilogram bag of cannabis that police believe was being transported by the victims.

Police have since launched a search for the four suspects and investigations into the circumstances surrounding the attack are ongoing.

Malawian Pastor To Spend 10 Years Jail For Sleeping With Three Married Women During Prayers At His House

Edgar Naitha — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 14:15:28 +0000

Esau Daison Kachinga, pastor of Life Changers Church, has been sentenced to ten years in prison for sexually assaulting three women who went to his home to pray.

One victim said she visited Kachinga on September 17, 2025, to pray for her husband, who is imprisoned in Chipata, Zambia.

She was told to bring an unopened bottle of water but was taken to a room and raped under the guise of a prayer session.

Kachinga denied all charges during the trial, but three witnesses testified against him, leading to his conviction.

Justice Godfrey Nyirenda condemned the Victim Support Unit at Mchinji Police Station for attempting to bribe the victim with K150,000, which she refused and reported.

Nyirenda ruled that Kachinga’s actions violated sections 132 and 133 of the Criminal Procedure Code and deserved strict punishment.

The sentence was meant to warn other men and protect women from similar abuse.

Officials at the Mchinji Social Welfare Office welcomed the verdict, praising the role of justice in supporti

Man Arrested For Possessing Chamba Without Valid Papers In Mchinji

Edgar Naitha — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:36:27 +0000

Police at the Mchinji One-Stop Border Post have arrested Yohane Mattias, 28, for being found in possession of Cannabis Sativa (Chamba) without a permit.

According to Mchinji Police Public Relations Officer, Limbani Mpinganjira, the suspect was arrested on October 30, 2025, following tip-offs from well-wishers who reported that Mattias was trading the illicit drug at Kaombe, near the border.

During the raid, officers recovered 402 twists of loose cannabis sativa from the suspect’s premises.

Mpinganjira added that Mchinji Police have since intensified operations to curb illegal drug trade and other criminal activities along the border as part of efforts to maintain law and order in the district.

Fire Destroys Many Shops at Mkanda Market in Mchinji

Edgar Naitha — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 10:00:43 +0000

Information reaching our news desk indicates that a fire has gutted several shops at the Mkanda Market in Mchinji district.

According to Blessings Muve, who operates at the market, the blaze was caused by petrol stored near a cooking area.

The fire spread rapidly, burning electrical wires and destroying numerous items, including those in Chipiku’s shop.

Muve added that the area is densely populated, making it difficult to extinguish the fire.

As of now, police and district officials are yet to comment on the matter.

10-Year-Old Student Found Dead in Mchinji

Edgar Naitha — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 12:26:11 +0000

Alex Ndaopa, a 10-year-old Grade 3 pupil at Kakoma II Primary School in Mchinji District, under Traditional Authority Kamwendo, has tragically died after he was reportedly found hanging from the roof of his mother’s house.

The exact reasons behind the incident remain unknown. However, some residents near the scene stated that they heard the boy’s mother scolding him the previous day for allegedly misusing K10,000.

The school’s headteacher, Mr. Hannock Chipaye, expressed sorrow over the loss, describing Alex as a learner who showed great interest in his education.

So far, police in Mchinji are yet to comment on the matter.

Mchinji Petrol Shortage Hits Day 6, Vendors Selling at K10,000 Per Litre

Edgar Naitha — Fri, 09 May 2025 14:15:46 +0000

In Mchinji, vendors are selling petrol at prices ranging from K9,000 to K10,000 per litre, taking advantage of a severe fuel shortage that has now entered its sixth day.

Petrol has been unavailable at service stations across the district, forcing motorists to turn to the black market despite the exorbitant prices.

The crisis is part of a wider fuel scarcity affecting several districts in Malawi, with drivers spending hours—or even entire nights—queuing at service stations in hopes of securing fuel.

Fitina Mbesa, a cross-border trader between Malawi and Zambia, says the shortage is taking a toll on her business. “It’s choking my finances. I can’t travel freely, and my goods are stuck,” she said.

Residents have expressed growing frustration as the prolonged shortage disrupts daily life and economic activities, with no immediate solution in sight.

Authorities are yet to give a clear explanation or timeline for when normal fuel supply will resume in the affected areas.

Police Arrest Eight in Connection with Theft at Mkanda Market

Edgar Naitha — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 08:45:43 +0000

Police in Mchinji District have arrested seven men and one woman on suspicion of stealing goods from the new Mkanda Market.

According to district police spokesperson Limbani Mpinganjira, the arrests followed a growing concern over the shortage of goods at the market, which prompted authorities to investigate the matter.

Those arrested include Lloyd Phiri, 32; Bakili Buleya, 38; Paul John, 42; Paul Harrison, 51; Maggie Khama, 43; Pemphero Katukula, 26; Nicolas John, 28; and Peter Banda, 31.

Mpinganjira confirmed that police have recovered 21 doors and other stolen items.

The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.

Mozambican Man Arrested for Murder of 5-Year-Old Daughter in Mchinji

Edgar Naitha — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 13:08:00 +0000

Police in Mchinji have arrested Perete Phiri aged 28, a Mozambican national, on suspicion that he assaulted and murdered his 5 year-old daughter in Kachira Village, Traditional Authority Zulu in Mchinji.

Police have established that the suspect, Perete Phiri married a Malawian woman with whom together had a daughter, Patience Phiri (now deceased)

Upon the two (parents) divorcing due to family misunderstandings, they lived in neighbouring villages while the suspect lived with the daughter and married another wife but cautioned her not visit her mother.

On April 8, 2025, the daughter sneaked into her mother’s house and that did not please the father (suspect) upon finding out who later assaulted her severely and eventually sustained head injuries and bruises.

During the same night, the suspect took the daughter to Ludzi Parish Clinic to recieve treatment where she died while receiving treatment.

Police learned about the death of the young child lately, and visited the scene and advised the Village Headman not to go ahead with burial processes until postmortem is done.

Autopsy results revealed that the death was due to head injuries secondary to assault.

Police immediately arrested the suspect and he will soon appear before the court to answer the charge of Murder.

Perete Phiri hails from Simbireko Village, Chief Mphonde in Mozambique.

Police Rescue Wandering Pangolin in Mchinji

Edgar Naitha — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:00:27 +0000

Police in Mchinji have rescued a listed endangered species, a live pangolin, in Kalingumbwa Village, Traditional Authority Simphasi.

According to the reports by police, the pangolin was spotted idling around the graveyard in the area during the morning of 26 December 2024.

Mchinji Police Station Public Relations Officer Limbani Mpinganjira said police learnt about the listed endangered species in the area through a well-wisher’s tip and detectives moved swiftly to the scene and managed to rescue it.

Meanwhile the live pangolin has been handed over to the officials from Wildlife and Parks for its safety.

34 Cows Killed by Lightning in Mchinji

Edgar Naitha — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 08:24:00 +0000

Information reaching our news desk indicates that lightning has killed 34 cows at once in the village of Matimba in the area of the great chief Simphasi in Mchinji today.

One of the owners of the cows, Mr. Mikson Josephy, said that the lightning blew the cows under the trees when the shepherd left them in the rain.

“The accident happened when the shepherd was living some cows in the barn. They were all about 45 out of the barn,” said Josephy.

More details to follow…

KACODO urges people in Mchinji to report GBV cases

Chikondi Kachulu — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 10:17:47 +0000

Kapari Community Development Organization (KACODO) which is in the area of chief Dambe in Mchinji, has asked people including women to come forward when they have been subjected to various abuses in order to get proper help.

KACODO director Linda Kabanda has said that violence that are increasing in the area are especially during the rainy season, and these are hiring children to work in farms, family conflicts, and fathers running away from farm work and selling all the produce after farming is over.

Speaking today at the commemoration of 16 days against violence, Kabanda said that the organization is in collaboration with Action Aid Malawi and they will be reaching out to chiefs and concerned groups to ensure that violence of any kind does not occur in the communities.

Senior chief Mchilumba of the area has thanked the organization, saying that they will help reduce the violence that has increased in the area of chief Dambe in the district.

MALARIA VACCINE TARGETS OVER 3, 000 UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN

Clara Phiri — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 07:16:15 +0000

The ministry of health has launched the Malaria vaccine Expansion program for children under five yesterday in Mchinji and the program is targeting over 3, 000 under-five children from eleven districts.

Secretary for Ministry Health, Dr. Charles Mwansambo, said more cases of death are being registered each day especially pregnant women and children under-five, with an estimate of 6 million cases per year.

According to Mwansambo, all parents and guardians are asked to have their children vaccinated.

Country Representative for the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Neem Kimambo, described the program as lifesaving, adding that malaria remains a public health problem in the country.

MALAWI TO LAUNCH UNDER-FIVE MALARIA VACCINE

Clara Phiri — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 10:51:03 +0000

Malawi Government through the Ministry of Health will this month from November 29 introduce Malaria Vaccine for children under five to put to an end Malaria by 2030.

Programs Manager for National Malaria Control Program, Dr Michael Kayange said the aim of the vaccine is to completely eliminate Malaria.

“We are targeting the under-five because they are mostly affected and the vaccine is an addition tool to help fight against the disease, we believe that the vaccine has a potential to reduce malaria by up to 1 million cases and we think that is quite helpful for us as a country.” Said Kayange

The vaccine will be distributed to 900,000 children 11 districts including Karonga, Nkhatabay, Ntchisi Lilongwe, Mchinji, Balaka, Machinga, Mangochi, Phalombe, Chikwawa and Nsanje.

“We have hope that the vaccine will expand to more districts and distributing nets to all districts.” He said

The RTS, S vaccine is directed in four doses: at 5 months, 6 months, 7 months, and 22 months of age.

The vaccine took 30 years for it to be developed and it was approved by World Health Organization (WHO) and after testing it in some countries like Kenya, Ghana and Malawi.

Currently 50% of Malawians are not using mosquito nets which is one way of preventing Malaria.

Malaria is still the leading cause of childhood illness and death in Sub-Saharan Africa.

FARMERS URGED TO USE HUMAN URINE AS FERTILIZER

Clara Phiri — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 09:53:14 +0000

Farmers have been advised to grow crops using ‘Bionitrate fertilizer, which is recycled from human urine and it is a rich source of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium.

This is advised due to the increase in price of chemical fertilizer.

According to the Director of Environmental Industries, Goodfellow Phiri, the Bionitrate per hectare of a Maize field requires 400 litre, and is sold at MK600 per litre but farmers are urged to make their own fertilizer Bionitrate fertilizer since the company has been giving knowledge to different farmers.

The application of Bionitrate is not limited to Maize, it can be applied to Wheat, Vegetables, Flowers, rice and beans,” Phiri said.

The fertilizer has been analyzed by Agriculture Research Extension Trust (ARET), and also working with LUANAR for efficiency. Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) currently has no standards for Bionitrate.

Bionitrate was introduced 10 years ago, 1000 farmers have benefited in Lilongwe, Mchinji, Neno and Mzimba.

From 2019, ARET laboratory report compiled by Chemist, Alick Mphembera, saying the fertilizer has been recommended regarding the test of the samples submitted.

CHILIMA CONGRATULATES CHAKWERA

Clara Phiri — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 07:31:15 +0000

Vice president Saulos Chilima has praised the President Lazarus Chakwera for signing the second Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) $350 million package in the United States

In a Facebook post, Chilima said the MCC package has come at the right time for Malawi and it will help in construction of roads.

He said the compact will help Malawi in stagnant economy to start moving forward through three key projects namely Accelerated Growth Corridors (AGC Project), Increased Land Productivity Project and he American Catalyst Facility for Development (ACFD Project).

The Compact signed on Wednesday will further address an identified need for greater coordination of policy and planning across key sectors with a particular focus on investments and initiatives in the Transport and Land sectors.

The main aim is to reduce poverty in our country through economic growth through constructing roads in rural areas to help farmers to easily access markets, among others.

“Once again congratulations to His Excellency the President for fixing the second MCC $350 million compact,” said Chilima

Speaking during the signing ceremony, President Chakwera said part of the roads will be constructed over 300kms of roads that include Mkanda- Mchinji to Mwase, Rumphi to Euthini in Mzimba, Lilongwe to Chigwirizano and a road from Chantulo in Mangochi off Golomoti to Monkeybay.

“Malawi is transforming, years to come it will no longer going to be the same after making tough and painful corrective economic decisions that will make a Malawi a better place,” he said

Man caught naked in a graveyard after a girl he attempted to defile escaped with his pair of trouser in Mchinji

Robert Ngwira — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 13:45:51 +0000

Unidentified man is in police custody in Mchinji after being caught naked in a graveyard after a girl he attempted to defile escaped with his pair of trouser.

The incident happened on Friday morning in the area of village headman Mkanda in the district.

According to information at hand, the girl, a standard 3 learner at Kaputu primary School left her home this morning for school.

While on her way the girl bumped into the suspect and he started charting with her. When they reached at a graveyard the man pushed her into the graveyard with an aim of having sex with her.

“While inside the graveyard he unzipped his trouser and preparing to defile her. There was no one to rescue her and she had to think of a plan on how to escape the attack. She told the monster to let her take her clothes off voluntarily and also asked the man to take off his trouser. The man didn’t hesitate but to remove his trouser in readiness to defile her.

“The brave girl had to bend her body as if she was removing her under wear and quickly grabbed the trouser of the monster and started running while shouting for help. The man tried to run after her but he was out run and being naked he gave up and went back into the graveyard,” narrated Gerald Kampanikiza on his official facebook page.

He added: “As she was still running, she met a woman who was working in her garden whom she passed by while with the man and she narrated the story. The woman realised the identity of the man. The woman took her to her school and the school organized community security guys assigned to go hunt for the man. He was finally caught naked and was taken to Mkanda where he is now. We thank God for saving her.”

The suspect will appear in court soon.

SEVEN WOMEN IN POLICE CUSTODY FOR ASSAULTING FELLOW WOMAN IN MCHINJI DISTRICT

Chisomo Kambale — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 13:04:41 +0000

At least seven women are in police custody at Mchinji Police station on allegations that they assaulted a fellow woman on suspicion that she was in an affair with a married man.

Station Officer for Mchinji Police, Charles James Mpezeni has confirmed the development while saying that all the seven are from Chibwana village, Traditional Authority Mlonyeni in the district.

According to Mpezeni, the seven are reported to have assaulted Christina Nyasulu after she was spotted coming out of the house of a family where the wife was not around.

Mpezeni further disclosed that the women have been arrested on the basis of a video clip circulating on social media.

The women will soon appear in court to answer charges surrounding assault.

POLICE OFFICER ON BAIL FOR AIDING SUSPECTS’ ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY

Chisomo Kambale — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 08:41:56 +0000

The Mchinji Senior Resident Magistrate court has on Monday, April 12 release on bail a police officer who is suspected to have aided two suspects to escape from police custody.

The suspected officer Detective Sergeant Josephy Hebo was arrested on March 30 this year.
Hebo is accused of offering equipment used to housebreaking to two suspects at Mchinji Police Station to help them escape from custody.

The two criminals however managed to escape custody after damaging outer signals office security bars using a metal bar they obtain from the suspected officer.

The two were after escape re-arrested by Dedza Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team and after dealing with them on their offenses were handed over to Mchinji Police on 29th March 2021 where after investigations they revealed that they were assisted to bolt out of custody by rank who supplied him with the breaking implement after paying rank K80,000 out of agreed K100,000.

The first escapee further indicates the rank is holding his passport which was to be returned after the remaining K20,000 is paid, the allegations that Hebo refutes.

Detective Sergeant Joseph Hebo hails from Chadzuka village Traditional Authority (T\A) Tengani in Nsanje district.