Malawi: Dedza Villagers Kill Police Officer During Rescue Mission

By Smile Hamilton, Malawi

Some villagers in Chufikani, Dedza District, have killed police officer Mphatso Namwada, who was stationed at Dedza Police.

According to reports gathered by African Culture TV, Namwada, along with three other police officers, had gone to rescue Fanuel Chadaine, who had been abducted by criminals demanding a ransom of K4.5 million for his release.

The police managed to apprehend some of the suspects and successfully rescued Chadaine. However, as they were leaving the scene, one of the suspects jumped off a motorcycle and attempted to flee. Officer Namwada gave chase, but some villagers intervened and began assaulting him.

National Police Spokesperson Peter Kalaya confirmed the incident. He said: “Our officer was brutally attacked by community members while performing his duty. This is unacceptable, and investigations are underway to bring those responsible to justice.”

Kalaya added: “When backup officers arrived, they found Constable Namwada in critical condition and his firearm missing. He was rushed to Dedza District Hospital, where he sadly died while receiving treatment.”

A Dedza resident, who witnessed the chaos, said: “The officer was only doing his work. It is painful that he lost his life in this way.”

Police have since launched a manhunt for both the fleeing suspect and those involved in assaulting the officer..