14 Rastafarians arrested for misconduct
Police in Mchinji have arrested 14 rastafarians for misconduct at a police station following the arrest of their fellow rastafarians.
Guillime Police Unit in the district on Wednesday arrested two rastafarians for cultivating Indian hemp in their gardens.
they were cultivating
But this did not go down well with other rastafarians in the area who mobilised themselves in an attempt to rescue their friends from the police unit.
Mchinji Police Station spokesperson Lubrino Kaitano said the rastas caused commotion at the police unit by, among other things, removing the police flag.
He said: “When the rastas got to the unit, they caused commotion and removed the police flag.”
The commotion is said to have got out of hand such that police officers from the main station intervened and arrested 12 irate members of the group, according to Kaitano.
He said the police identified one of the suspects, Ras Mishack Banda, 52, as the leader of the group.
The arrested rastas were Banda, Yohane Boniface, 25; Daniel Zulu, 21; Simeon Mwale,27; Zambika Masoadyera, 27; Langizo Siliya, 24; Chadaza Phiri, 23; Patrick Mhango, 23; Gelesomo Chemili,35; Kabungwe Mwale,35; Meshack John, 24; Jonathan Sakale, 22; John Biliati, 20; and Mathews Sitolo, 20;.
Kaitano said the 12 will appear in court soon to answer charges of cultivation and possession of cannabis sativa without a licence and misconduct at a police station. n
