Community damages police unit in Mchinji 

Community members from Traditional Authority Mduwa in Mchnji District on Monday evening damaged Mikundi Police Unit following disagreements with police officers over two suspects under custody.

According to a witness Zedekiya Mwale, the community members bayed for the blood of the two suspects who allegedly injured a 15-year-old boy in the area.

He said the two suspects allegedly beat the boy at Mathalu Village in the area as he was coming from the market.

“Following the incident, police officers arrested the two suspects, but angry community members marched to the police unit to demand the release of the two suspects so they can deal with them on their own,” said Mwale.

In an interview yesterday, Mchinji Police Station spokesperson Maxwell Jailosi said the boy sustained multiple cuts on his left arm which was amputated at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe.

He said after police refused to hand over the suspects, community members burned part of the police unit, the house of the officer-in-charge and the houses of the suspects.

“However police officers managed to take the suspects to a safe location,” said Jailosi.

This is the second time that community members have destroyed Mikundi Police Unit.

In April 2015, angry people damaged the structure following the arrest of some people involved in chieftaincy wrangles.

The people also beat up a police officer who was manning the unit before descending on his house. Following the destruction, Malawi Police Service closed the unit.

In 2013, angry community members also burnt down Mkanda Police Unit when police arrested a man who was allegedly selling fuel illegally.

Recently, Police have been holding talks with community members in the district, asking people not to vandalise police structures when there are misunderstandings with police officers.