Police in Mzimba are keeping in custody three men and a woman for allegedly murdering 37-year-old Maxson Banda at Kalweya in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) M’mbelwa in the district
According to spokesperson for Mzimba Police, Sub Inspector Peter Botha the suspects are Agness Mbeye,44 Mbeye’s son, Standwell Mhone, 26, Fiskani Gondwe ,27 and a 39-year-old Army Kaluwa,39 who is a member of community policing forum of the area.
Botha said Banda was employed by Mbeye in May 2022, as a cattle herder.
“On May 23, 2022 Mbeye suspected that Banda (now deceased) had stolen her beddings and clothes. She then handed over Banda to members of community policing forum of the area for interrogation,” said Botha.
He said the members of community policing forum assaulting Banda and later one of the members, Mhone took Banda in his Toyota Dyna vehicle and dumped him in a forest along the Mzimba- Kasungu M1 Road near Embangweni Turn-off.
“Banda was then found and taken by a motorist who was passing-by and dropped him at Mzimba Turn off, and he was later taken to police by another well-wisher before taking him to Mzimba District Hospital where he was pronounced dead on Sunday,” said Botha.
He said postmortem conducted at the hospital revealed that death was due loss of blood secondary to multiple wounds.
Botha said the four suspects are expected to appear in court soon to answer murder charge, which is contrary to Section 209 of the Penal Code.
Banda hailed from Nkhata Village in TA Mnyanje in Kasungu District whilst Kaluwa hails from Gomani Mkandawire Village all the area of TA M’mbelwa in Mzimba District.
