By Yewo Munthali

Lilongwe, May 13, Mana: Police in Lilongwe have arrested 11 men suspected of robbing ZZTH Wealth company at Nathenje in Lilongwe on April 25, 2025.

The gang of thieves run off with an iPhone valued at K3.5 million and K250,000 in cash after a failed money safe robbery.

According to Lilongwe Police Public Relations officer, Hastings Chigalu, the suspects have been identified as Daniel Kudzala, 33; Reuben Kankhuni, 32; Ranken Msakambewa, 38; Steven Mpakati, 57; Emmanuel Smart, 37; James Amadu, 38; Robert Kaiwalika, 32; Davie Kalipinde, 40; Emmanuel Phiri, 32; Esau Phiri, 48, and William Lodistala, 32.

On the said date at around 18:00 hours, a total of 16 criminals armed with panga knives invaded the quarry stone compound where they attacked the daughter of the company owner, assaulted and handcuffed her before robbing her of the iPhone, and cash in the cashier’s office.

“The criminals were using a minibus registration number LA 7229 that belonged to the first suspect and targeted a money safe which they believed had accumulated a huge sum of cash after a tip-off from the second suspect who is a mechanic at the company.

“However, they failed to succeed in the targeted robbery after a mother to the victim who witnessed the incident from her hiding place, fired several gunshots that forced the criminals to run away.” Chigalu explained.

The first suspect (Kudzala) organized three criminal syndicates from Area 23, Mgona and Lilongwe Town, and planned to invade the quarry stone company.

Prior to the robbery, the criminals held two meetings at Lilongwe Teachers College football ground, and a third one at Naere ground before spending a night at Nathenje Trading Centre on the eve of the attack.

“During interrogation, the suspects disclosed that Kankhuni had shared information with his accomplices about the company’s practice of storing large sums of cash in its safe. This plan was allegedly based on observations that the company had not deposited money into the bank for an extended period despite generating substantial revenue from quarry sales,” Chigalu said.

Meanwhile detectives have intensified a manhunt to apprehend the five runaway culprits.

The suspects will appear in court soon to answer a case of robbery.

Kudzala hails from Juma Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Chiwalo, Amadu is from Salima Village, TA Sitola both in Machinga; Kankhuni comes from Chidaya Village, TA Makwangwala, Ntcheu; Msakambewa is from Nkhuni Village, TA Mwansambo, Nkhotakota; Mpakati hails from Muluso Village, TA Mulumbe, Zomba; Kalipinde comes from Kalungwe Village, TA Likoswe, Chiradzulu.

Smart comes from Chipojola Village, TA Malili; Kaiwalika hails from Kuliyani Village; Emmanuel Phiri is from Chisale Village, Esau Phiri comes from Sibande Village all in TA Chitukula; Lodistala hails from Nyozwe Village, TA Kalolo, all in Lilongwe District.