Police have intensified security measures, including joint day and night patrols with community policing structures to enhance safety while investigating cases of attacks and murders that have left residents of Area 25 in Lilongwe in fear.
National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya in an interview yesterday said police have leads for all the recent cases of murder and violent attacks reported to Kanengo Police Station under which Area 25 falls.
He said detectives are on the ground following up on the leads and insisted that police are on top of the situation.
“We have also put in place a number of measures to ensure the safety of the residents,” said Kalaya.
He confirmed that cases of murder and violent attacks under Kanengo Police have risen compared to the same period last year, hence the police have enhanced security measures, including joint day and night patrols with community policing structures, engaging block leaders and their subjects and increased awareness on personal safety.
Areas under Kanengo Police Station include Area 25, Area 49, Kanengo Indusrial Area, Chiwamba and surrounding areas within Lilongwe.
Since May this year, Areas 25 and 49 alone have experienced at least seven murder cases and a number of violent attacks on residents, with some of the survivors stating that the assailants aim at killing the victims.
In an interview, a survivor from Area 25 Sector 8 who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being identified or tracked by the assailants said he was attacked a few yards from his house at around 10pm on his way from Nsungwi Market where he was relaxing with friends.
But others have not been lucky enough to escape the jaws of the evil assailants.
On Monday morning, a man identified as Peter Chalusa was hacked to death in Area 25. His body was dumped outside Kalambo Primary School fence at Nsungwi, where it was found by passers-by.
Block leader for Muula Village within Area 25, Hermes Kapenuka, said mostly people working on night shifts at Kanengo Industrial Area were easy targets.
“Thugs take advantage of the nightshift workers to attack them on their way to or from work. Within this area alone, four people, including a Form Four student at Dzenza Secondary School, have been killed,” he said.
The security lapse has caused panic among residents, slowed down economic activities as businesses are forced to close early, and left parents whose children go to distant schools in utter fear.
Business owners have also lamented the situation, saying it has affected business as they are forced to close early to get home before the bloodthirsty thugs get down to work.
“We cannot make money as before because people are afraid. Many people are busy with work during the day and when they come they only spend like an hour or two and leave so it is hard,” said Mike Boniface who owns a small bar around the Kabwabwa area located close to Nsungwi Market.
