New police recruits implicated in corruption
Four new police recruits in Mzuzu have been arrested for allegedly soliciting a bribe from a Malawi Aids Counselling and Resource Organisation (Macro) official who was alleged to have been cultivating Indian hemp.
According to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, the four officers on Monday came across Indian hemp (chamba) plants at the Macro official’s house in Chiputula Township in Mzuzu.
Instead of effecting an arrest, they allegedly asked the suspect for K20 000 (about $31).
The woman is alleged to have given the money to the four officers identified as Peter Zulu, 23, of Kalimbero Village Traditional Authority(T/A) Chakhumbira in Ntcheu District, Wiseman Chiweza, 25, of Malango Village T/A Malenga in Ntchisi District, Moffat Chawinga, 27, of Bamzale Village T/A Katumbi in Rumphi District and Isaac Tambala,27, of Mtata Village T/A Chakhaza in Dowa district.
The officers also provided their phone numbers to the woman who later informed her husband about what happened, according to the source.
She lodged a complaint at the police station and the officers were arrested and charged with corruption and the K20 000 was recovered.
The woman has since been charged with the offence of cultivating Indian hemp.
Mzuzu Police spokesperson Martin Bwanali and Northern Region Police spokesperson refused to comment on the matter yesterday. n
