Police in Mponela, Dowa are keeping in custody 22 individuals in connection with looting of shops and offices at Mponela trading center following protests that pupils staged over their striking teachers.
According to Dowa police publicity Kondwani Kandiado said that on Wednesday, January 22,2020 some adults joining the pupils protests stormed Admarc offices, Chipiku and Bata shops where they went away with property worth millions of kwachas.
Police officers from Mponela, however, the same night managed to arrest 22 suspects in connection with the looting.
The Police also managed to recover some of the stolen property which include bales of sugar, mattresses, soap and packs of beer.
Police have also intensified investigations into the matter and more arrests and recovery are expected.
All the 22 suspects will appear before court soon to answer charges revolving around breaking into a buildings and committing offences . If found guilty, may be liable to imprisonment for 10 years.
Meanwhile, Police are warning parents to always take care of their wards and advise them against taking to the street without following proper procedures.
The Police are asking parents and pupils to take heed of this warning to avoid injuries to the pupils.
