Suspect killed at budget director’s residence

Police in Lilongwe have shot dead a suspected robber who yesterday morning attempted to break into the house of Ministry of Finance budget director Chancy Simwaka.

The incident brings to mind the shooting of Simwaka’s predecessor Paul Mphwiyo at the gate of his Area 43 residence in Lilongwe in September 2013.

The Nation has learnt that a C-Company police officer guarding Simwaka’s premises in Area 47 reported to Lingadzi Police Station that a group of men entered the premises in the early hours on Sunday.

Upon noting that the premises had been breached, the police officer opened fire on the suspects, one of whom was found dead in the drains of the budget director’s residence.

Lilongwe Police Station spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula confirmed that four men went to Simwaka’s house around 2am of Sunday.

He said the police officer, who was guarding Simwaka’s house reported that the four men wore masks and were armed with pangas.

“The officer shot at one of them as the others escaped over the fence. His body was found on the other side of the fence.

“The suspects remain unknown but as I am speaking now, his body is at the Kamuzu Central Hospital mortuary where we are hoping it will be identified by Monday [today],” Dandaula said.

In an interview yesterday, Simwaka said he was not best-placed to speak on the incident because it is the police who provide security to his home. However, he said he and his family were well.

Simwaka replaced Mphwiyo in October 2013 in acting capacity before he was confirmed in December the same year.