3 jailed 21 years for robbing murdered MRA manager

The Dedza Principal Resident Magistrate’s Court on Friday convicted and sentenced three men to 21 years imprisonment each for robbing former Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) Dedza Border Post station manager Alinafe Bonongwe murdered last year.

The three are Samson Mkhalapadzuwa, 24, Gerard Maida, 20, and Tangoyang’ana Kadango, 22. The court learnt that the trio on February 4 2022 robbed Bonongwe whose lifeless body was found around 10pm on the same day.

They went away with K3.2 million, one HP laptop computer, laptop bag, two pairs of shoes, a shirt, a pair of trousers, one shaving machine and cellphone chargers.

During hearing of the matter, the three pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them, but the State paraded seven witnesses and proved its case.

State prosecutor Inspector Patrick Dickson Chipote asked the court to give the convicts stiffer punishment, stating that they all planned to commit the crime and that they breached trust as Mkhalapadzuwa was employed by the late Bonongwe.

In mitigation, the three asked for leniency claiming that they are still young and first offenders.

But principal resident magistrate Clemence Chamwenda said the knowledge of their obligations existed before committing the offences and he sentenced the three to 21 years imprisonment each.

Meanwhile, the court has also sentenced Lydia Kadango, 50, to 30 months imprisonment for being found in custody of the stolen items contrary to Section 407(1) of the Penal Code.

Dedza Police Station spokesperson Beatrice Jefita said investigations into Bonongwe’s murder are still in progress.