Police at Jenda in Mzimba are keeping in custody a 20-year-old man for severely wounding a police officer by hacking him on the head with a hoe whilst on duty in Mzimba.
Public Relations Officer for Jenda Police Station, Sub Inspector Macfarlen Mseteka has identified the suspect as Ausward Mwale who hails from Suwe Village, Traditional Authority Mzikubola in the district.
According to Mseteka, the incident occurred during the night of September 7, 2023 at the suspect’s house at Suwe around Jenda trading centre when police officers raided his house to arrest him.
It is alleged that Ausward is being suspected of a number of robberies around Jenda, and on this fateful night police detectives went to his house to apprehend him.
They successfully surrounded his house unfortunately, as they were entering the suspect picked a hoe and hacked one of the detectives on the head who sustained a deep cut.
Other officers managed to overpower him and was later apprehended.
The police officer was rushed to Jenda Rural Hospital where he was treated as an outpatient.
Apart from robbery, Ausward has also been charged with acts intended to cause grievous harm or prevent an arrest which is contrary to section 235 of the penal code.
Ausward Mwale will appear before court in due course.