Chitipa, Tanzanian district join forces to fight crime

Rising cases of cross-border crimes between Malawi and Tanzania have prompted authorities in the border districts of Chitipa and Ileje to team up and jointly fight crime.

Both assistant commissioner of police Aubrey Kawale and Chitipa district commissioner Michael Chimbalanga on Thursday confirmed that Chitipa District has been hard-hit by cross- border crime and that duty- bearers in the district have joined forces with their Tanzanian counterparts to address the situation.

Kawale and Chimbalanga said some Malawians and Tanzanians use uncharted routes to evade tax. The duty bearers on both sides have since agreed to intensify policing of the border area

“We already work together, but we want to be more vigilant on cross-border crimes and other issues. We have assisted each other on murder and theft cases before,” said Kawale.

The assistant commissioner said there is a growing trend whereby Tanzanians claiming to be herbalists come to Malawi to exorcise witchcraft. He said people accused of practising witchcraft are ordered to pay cattle while those found not guilty are told to pay service fees or a chicken.

Police have since warned the people of Chitipa against entertaining such herbalists, saying it is against the law to call someone a witch. 

Kawale said another area of concern was human trafficking where Malawian youths are promised good jobs but when they get to Tanzania, they work in farms.

Police and the DC’s office have since warned the youth to be cautious and to consult relevant authorities when they get such offers. n