A 36-year old man is in Police custody in Blantyre for allegedly threating to kill Blantyre City Mayor Noel Chalamanda through a text message on Friday.

Blantyre police Public Relations Officer Elizabeth Divala confirmed of the arrest in an interview with the press and identified the suspect as Charles Mpaya.

“On Friday while the mayor was attending a function at MDF camp in Chichiri, he received a phone call from unknown caller who identified himself as Charles Tery, an officer from Changalume MDF Barracks,” said Divala.

Divala said after receiving the call Chalamanda informed the MDF officials who retaliated managed to arrest the suspect at Chichiri Shopping Mall.

Mpaya was dismissed from the force in 2011, and has been on police wanted-list for a theft offence he committed in Zomba district.