By Dhumisani Khumalo

Mzuzu, March 19, Mana: Police in Mzuzu have applauded the public for being proactive in reporting rape and defilement cases to relevant authorities such as social welfare organizations and Malawi Police Service (MPS).

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Wednesday, Deputy Public Relations Officer for Mzuzu Police Station, Cecilia Mfune, attributed the development to awareness initiatives by various stakeholders, including MPS, on the vice.

The remarks were made following a report of arrest of Jailosi Kanyika, 38, of Katutula Village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Mwaulambya in Chitipa who was detained for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a nine-year-old girl within Mzuzu City on March 16, 2025.

“This entails that communities are aware of the consequences of such heinous activities, hence taking lead in reporting such cases to us.

“They also understand that rape and defilement cases are criminal in nature as such they cannot be handled by the communities themselves,” said Mfune.

She added that, in the past, community members were reluctant to report such cases to authorities with the goal of shielding suspects, who could be their relations, from facing the law.

District Social Welfare Officer for Mzimba North, Hellen Simwaka, said her office works in collaboration with the police and other partners in dealing with such cases.

“We usually collaborate with the police and render required service once a survivor of such a case has reported to police so that the perpetrator is apprehended and brought to book,” said Simwaka.

She commended the Judiciary for supporting stakeholder’s efforts by handing stiff and punitive jail sentences to perpetrators.

Currently, police in Mzuzu   have effected arrest of Leonard Konyani, 29, for having sexual intercourse with an eight-year-old girl child within the city.

Konyani, who was arrested on March 18, hails from Chimwaza Village in the area of TA Mponela in Dowa District.