By Ernest Mfunya

Mangochi, February 6, Mana. Police in Mangochi have re-arrested Nuru Mustafa and Noel Maonga, both 25, for allegedly breaking into St. Augustine 3 Primary School block stealing assorted items such as iPads, mats, charger servers as well as headphones worth K66.5 million.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA), Mangochi Police Station Public Relations Officer, Inspector Amina Tepani Daudi, said the incident occurred in the early hours of February 5, within the township.

Tepani said St. Augustine 3 school head teacher reported the matter to police.

"The head teacher found one of the school blocks with learning materials missing including 43 iPads, 43 headsets and charger servers, that were donated by Voluntary Service Organization" said Daudi.

She said police later arrested the two suspects, who were offering for sale some of the items at Chiponde Trading Centre.

"We have recovered 41 iPads, 41 headsets worth K61,500,000. We have also discovered that the two suspects are ex-convicts who were recently released from prison,” she said.

In a separate interview, head teacher for St. Augustine 3 Primary School, Cosmas Chimwanza, expressed sadness over the development, saying that the incident will negatively impact the learning process at the school as the materials were assisting learners to get information as basic computers.

"Unlike in class where learners interact with teachers, the iPads were being used as basic computers, enabling the learners to get information through them," Chimwanza said.

The suspects are expected to appear before court where they will answer charges of breaking into a building and committing a felony there in, contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code.

Mustafa comes from Mtalimanja Village, while Maonga comes from Samama Village, both in Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi.