A minibus driver and his conductor have been arrested by police in Phalombe district after they exceeded the carrying capacity of a minibus – carrying 24 passengers instead of 16 passengers.

Phalombe police spokesperson Augustus Nkhwazi has identified the Nissan Caravan minibus driver as James Bwanaisa, 29 and the conductor Steven Lawrence 34, who are being charged for endangering lives contrary to section 237 of the penal code.

According to Nkhwazi, Police cornered the vehicle around Likulezi Trading Centre on Sunday morning as it was coming from Blantyre going to Chiringa with 24 passengers on board instead of 16.

“He went to the extent of carrying 4 people in the driver`s seat section instead of 3 people including the driver himself,” said Nkhwazi.

After the incident the two were then taken to police custody where they are waiting to answer charges.

Lawrence hails from Mgona Village in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Chowe in Mangochi district while Bwanaisa comes from Mpembu Village TA Kapeni in Blantyre.