Despite the government effort against drug theft, health workers have been found to be perpetrating the malpractice.

Recently, the Dedza First Grade Magistrate Eneti Jiya Banda has convicted Noah Nyati, 29, of theft by public servant.

Nyati, a pharmacy technician at Dedza District Hospital, was accused of stealing assorted medical drugs valued at K 427,433 in June this year.

The court gave him the suspended sentence on September 27 after he asked the court during mitigation to consider him so because he was ready to pay back the monetary value of the drugs.

Dedza police public relations officer Cassim Manda confirmed the development.

Nyati comes from Ephraim Nyati Village in Traditional Authority Kampingo Sibande in Mzimba.

This crime is contrary to section 283 subsection (1) of the penal code.