Crime in Malawi
[19][20] In 2003, a sense of horror gripped the town of Zomba as a serial killer began targeting young women, most of whom were students at the University of Malawi.
[33] The Platform for Investigative Journalism in Malawi exposed the syndicate, sharing the heart-wrenching story of Ethel Moyo, who was forced into marriage with a Chinese man despite being underage.
[33] In 2022, a 26-year-old Chinese national, Lu Ke, was charged with human trafficking in Malawi after allegedly exploiting and filming children singing racist chants.
[34][35][36] Lu Ke was accused of selling the videos on Chinese social media and faced five counts of trafficking in persons, with more charges expected.
[38] In addition, community members have been instrumental in reporting suspected cases of human trafficking, leading to numerous arrests and rescues.
[39][40] In 2019, a high-profile case emerged in Lilongwe, where former Minister of Energy, Newton Kambala, was arrested for laundering millions of dollars in bribes from a foreign company.
[42][43][40] In 2017, a prominent businessman, Osward Lutepo, was arrested for laundering millions of dollars in connection with the controversial "Cashgate" scandal, in which government officials and businessmen conspired to steal public funds.
Civil society organizations, such as the Malawi chapter of the Global Coalition Against Corruption, have also been instrumental in advocating for stronger laws and greater transparency.
[46] For instance, in 2020, the High Court sentenced former Minister Ralph Kasambara to 10 years in prison for money laundering and ordered him to pay a fine of $1 million.
For instance, in 2019, a notable incident occurred in the rural district of Mchinji, where a group of thieves stole 20 head of cattle worth millions of kwacha from a local farmer, Mr. Chipoka.
[52][52] In 2023, the International Press Institute (IPI) commended the release of Malawian journalist Macmillan Mhone, who was arrested on cybercrime charges in April.
In 2018, a group of hackers targeted the National Bank of Malawi, gaining access to customer accounts and stealing large sums of money.
Additionally, the government has launched public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the harmful effects of cyberbullying and the importance of responsible social media use.
In 2018, a prominent businessperson, Dr. Thomson Mpinganjira,[66] was arrested and charged with online fraud after allegedly swindling investors out of millions of kwacha through a fake investment scheme.
[69][70][71] In 2023, the Daily Maverick published an article about the Michiru Forest in Malawi which suffered significant destruction, losing over 1,904 hectares of land, including indigenous tree species and biodiversity.
The Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM) called for urgent action, working with government agencies, local communities, and launching a petition to raise awareness and secure financial support for forest rehabilitation and management.
[73][74] In 2019, a devastating pollution incident occurred in the capital city of Lilongwe, where a private company, Blue Circle Industries, was found to be releasing toxic chemicals into the nearby river.
[75][74] In 2017, a group of residents in the town of Kachere, in the Nsanje District, complained of air and water pollution caused by a nearby coal mine.
[78][79][80][77] Poaching which involves the illegal hunting, killing, or capturing of wild animals, causing harm to biodiversity and ecosystems has been a major problem in Malawi particularly in national parks and game reserves.
[84] In 2018, a famous Chinese businessman, Liu Haijiang, was arrested at the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, attempting to smuggle rhino horns and elephant tusks out of the country.
Additionally, the government has launched public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the importance of wildlife conservation and the negative impacts of poaching.
[87] In 2019, a significant drug bust occurred in the capital city of Lilongwe, where a group of traffickers, led by a notorious criminal, Felix Phiri, were arrested with over 100 kilograms of heroin.
In 2019, a notable incident occurred when a group of military officers, led by Colonel Felix Jolobala, attempted a coup against the government of President Peter Mutharika.
In 2019, a notable incident occurred when a prominent activist, Boniface Massah, was arrested and charged with sedition for allegedly inciting protests against the government.
The party claims the CD was sent anonymously and they were surprised by the swift arrest orders from the Minister of Information, Patricia Kaliati, which they believe were politically motivated.
[99] In 2018, a prominent opposition leader, Lazarus Chakwera, was attacked by suspected ruling party supporters while campaigning in the northern region of the country.
In 2019, a notable incident occurred when a group of vagrants were arrested in the capital city of Lilongwe for loitering and begging in public areas.
The Malawian government has taken steps to address vagrancy, including establishing rehabilitation programs for homeless individuals and increasing support for low-income families.
[106] Malawi has been affected by disorderly conduct which involves behaving in a manner that disturbs the peace and tranquility of the community, causing annoyance or alarm to others almost all the time often linked to public intoxication, noise pollution, and disruptive behavior.
In 2019, a notable incident occurred when a group of revelers were arrested in the tourist town of Mangochi for engaging in disorderly conduct, including loud noise and public intoxication.
