MEC officials, others cornered in syndicate
Police in Mzuzu have arrested Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) officials and others on suspicion that they connived to steal generators at MEC Northern Region warehouse in Mzuzu.
Mzuzu Police Station spokesperson Martin Bwanali yesterday confirmed the arrest of MEC officials, guards from a private security firm, taxi drivers and a former MEC security guard.
He identified those arrested as MEC stores clerk Davie Tumpha and MEC warehouse clerk Bright Mkandawire. The security guards are Petro Gandiseni and Chifundo Gama working for Kamu Security Services, according to police.
The four face the charge of theft by servant, said Chapola.
He also confirmed the arrest of drivers Watson Phiri, Daniel Munthali and Smalley Banda.
Chapola said police also arrested former MEC security guard Dickens Kalua on suspicion that he was sent by Tumpha to collect the generators at the warehouse. Kalua was allegedly found loading seven generators in vehicles driven by the trio above.
When police opened investigations into the matter on Monday, it was established that 10 more generators were missing at the warehouse.
MEC officials could only account for one generator (not among the missing 10) borrowed by MEC commissioner the Reverend Maxwell Mezuwa Banda.
When asked on the generator, Banda admitted that he borrowed the generator to be used for a certain function, adding the office was aware of it.
MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa on Tuesday could not tell how the 10 generators went missing, adding the matter was under investigation.
However, he said it is unfortunate that there was such an incident and that some MEC employees were suspects.
In 2015, a MEC warehouse in Lilongwe went up in flames.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) demanded a fresh investigation into the cause of the fire on suspicion of foul play.
