Police have drawn mixed reactions for publicly parading and interrogating six people on suspicion that they played a role in the murder of Kamuzu University of Health Sciences lecturer and gynaecologist Victoria Bobe.
Malawi Law Society president Davis Njobvu, University of Malawi law lecturer Bright Theu and Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (Chreaa) executive director Victor Chagunyuka Mhango said while police deserve praise for swiftly arresting the suspects, they expressed concern over turning the reconstruction of the scene into a public spectacle.
Njobvu said parading suspects before court proceedings was wrong and could compromise investigations, especially if other suspects are still at large. He said: “It’s good that we have the police that respond to those kinds of incidents and they must be commended. But they just have to make sure that they don’t end up undermining their own effort by trying to show too much to the people. If others are on the run, it’s almost impossible to arrest all of them.”
In a separate interview, Theu said despite the public outrage surrounding Bobe’s murder, suspects are still entitled to constitutional protections. He warned that such exposure could prejudice the courts and potentially derail justice, saying: “Basically, these suspects have been tried in the media. I am sure the public have found them guilty, especially because they are describing what they did. Now the court might even end up being prejudiced because the moment you start making prejudicial statements, you may end up with people being released because they may not have a fair trial.”
However, private practice lawyer John-Gift Mwakhwawa offered a slightly different view as he said there was nothing wrong with the parade of the suspects on camera as long as they were informed about their right to remain silent and to have legal representation.
Earlier yesterday, cathedral silence hung over Chigumula as police led six men back to the Bobes’ residence off Viphya Avenue in the residential area. The suspects, namely Charles Chikafa, alleged team leader, Santos Chamamba, Raphael Rafik Abdul Hassan, Peter Chimenya, Isah Ali and Maxwell Eliya stood under tight police guard as they narrated, step by step, how the deadly night allegedly unfolded.
Chikafa told the police investigation team led by Christopher Pangeti that the plan began quietly and methodically just for robbery. He said he assigned Chamamba and Eliya to breach the backyard fence through a neighbouring house, a route they reportedly used to access Bobe’s home. “Our duty was just to make a hole in the fence. It only took a few minutes. We used a screwdriver and a burglar-bar metal,” said Maxwell.
Once the hole was made, the two men claimed they reported back to Chikafa, who instructed them to remain outside the front fence on alert. As the group comprising police officers, suspects and members of the media entered the deceased’s premises, grief became intense. Bobe’s widower, Yamikani stood frozen near the gate, shaking his head. For nearly four minutes, he did not move. In a low, broken voice, he later gestured and said: “Yes, I have now recognised that short guy [pointing at Ali]. He is the one who took our laptop.”
Some family members were overheard questioning why they killed Victoria. “If they are indeed thieves they should have just taken property and spare Vic’s life,” said one of the women.
Chikafa alleged that Hassan, purportedly a former police officer from Mozambique, was in charge of the gun that killed Victoria Bobe. However, none of the suspects identified who actually fired the gun.
Outside the brick wall fence, grief turned to rage. Residents, who looked angry, pleaded with police to release the suspects “for just five minutes” to deal with them, saying the murder had left an indelible scar in the area. It took police intervention to disperse the crowd and restore order by forcing some of the residents to enter into their gates.
South West Police Region deputy spokesperson Beatrice Mikuwa declined to comment on the matter. Bobe, 33, was killed on November 17 2025 at her house in Chigumula, Blantyre.
