By Mwai Kumanda

Lilongwe, May 16, Mana: Two murder suspects who were wanted by Lingadzi Police in Lilongwe have voluntarily surrendered to police, fearing for their own lives.

Lingadzi Police Station publicist Sergeant Cassim Manda confirmed the development in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Thursday.

Manda has since identified the two as John Gidala, 34, and Mavuto Jonas, 42.

“The two are suspected to have murdered a 27-year-old Madalitso Magwaya whose body was found in Lilongwe River near Kauma Township with both hands and legs tied.

“It is also believed that Gidala offered his bicycle to transport the victim to an unknown destination where they hacked Magwaya before throwing him into the river,” he said.

According to Manda, the two had been on the run for several days and became extremely fearful of their safety after hearing growing tension from the deceased’s family, hence surrendering themselves in the hands of the police.

The two will be taken to court soon to answer murder case, contrary to section 209 of the penal code which attracts the maximum sentence of death penalty.

Gidala hails from Lipalama Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chimutu in Lilongwe District and Jonas hails from Nkhuthe Village in Traditional Authority Chitukula’s area in the same district.