Police in Mchinji have arrested 34 suspected criminals from the July 4 to 5, 2019 demonstrations organized by Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) which took place in the district.
According to Mchinji Police Publicist, Inspector Kaitano Lubrino, two shops including Chipiku Stores at Kamwendo Trading Centre were ransacked by the looters masquerading as protesters.
He said the development prompted the Police to institute intensive investigations to arrest the perpetrators.
“A total of 34 suspects have been arrested and police have recovered assorted items from them. Some shops were maliciously damaged in the process of demonstrations,” the Publicist Lubrino said.
“Some of the items recovered include iron sheets” Lubrino added
Out of 34 suspects, 15 are from Kamwendo Trading Centre, 10 from Mchinji Boma and nine are from Matutu Trading Centre.
The 34 suspects will appear before court soon to answer charges of theft, malicious damage and inciting violence respectively.
Police have warned the Mchinji residents to desist from being lawlessness despite having the right to peaceful demonstrations.
