MINIBUS CALLBOYS ARRESTED OVER ASSAULT IN LILONGWE

Police in Lilongwe have arrested four minibus touts for allegedly assaulting a 28-year-old man and his brother-in law over traffic jam accusations.

The suspects are identified as Steven Jika, Andrew Lipenga, Brighton Malani and Ishmael Andison.


The four were picked on Thursday at the minibus terminal outside Lilongwe Bus Depot near Banja La Mtsogolo clinic.

The suspects allegedly pounced on Yohane Kamwendo, a man with albinism, and Mphatso Lice, accusing them of causing traffic jam.

The victims were traveling in a Toyota Ractis on their way from Bwaila District Hospital where Kamwendo was being treated.

But the victims ended up into the hands of the four minibus call-boys, who initially accused driver Victoria, who happens to be Lice's wife, of blocking the road.

Following the attack, Kamwendo sustained an injury to his head while Lice suffered serious injuries to his chest.

The two were rushed to Bwaila District Hospital where they were treated as outpatients.

Police arrested the suspects and charged them with two counts; conspiracy to harm a person with disability, contrary to Section 224 (1) of the Penal Code and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 254 of the Penal code.

The four will soon appear before court to answer the two charges.

Jika, 38, comes from Chamatwa Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Chamba in Machinga; Lipenga, 25, is from Khudzupa Village, T/A Kaduya in Phalombe; Malani, 31, hails from Chitsani Village, T/A Kalonga in Salima, and Andison, 22, is from Chapita Village, T/A Nsamala in Balaka.