8 years in jail for robbery in Mzimba

The Mzimba First Grade Magistrate’s Court on July 18, 2022 convicted and sentenced Wighane Njakwa, 32 to 8-years Imprisonment with Hard Labour (IHL)for robbery. 

The court heard through prosecutor Assistant Superintendent Peter Piringu that Njakwa hired a taxi Toyota Ractis registration number NS 7290 in Mzuzu to unknown destination during the night of December 11, 2021, and was being driven by Phillip Mzumara 50, of Mtebete village in T/A Katumbi in Rumphi district.

The driver (Mzumara) called his wife that he has left for Songwe, and when the wife wanted to verify about the trip it was established that Mzumara’s cell phone could not be reached.

The matter was reported to Mzuzu Police station and investigations to trace the whereabouts of Mzumara commenced.

Two days later he was found dead near Chakazi bridge in Mzimba district with gun shot wound in the head.

On the 13th of January 2022, the same vehicle was recovered by Police at Kawale in Lilongwe being offered for sale by Wighane Njakwa.

After being quizzed of where he got the car, it was established that the convict used violence to rob the vehicle from Mzumara.

Appearing in court, the convict pleaded not guilty to the charge of robbery which prompted the state to parade witnesses who proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

In his submission prosecutor Piringu asked the court to grant a stiffer punishment stating that such cases are on the rise in the region where most targeted people are motorcycle operators and motor vehicle operators who ply their trade as taxi operators.

Passing sentence, First Grade Magistrate Gamariel concurred with the state hence slapped him 100 months with hard labour as deterrent to other would be offenders.

Before the robbery conviction, Njakwa was serving a two months jail term sentence for being found in possession of amunitions, and is yet to answer a charge of murder.

Njakwa comes from Yacobe Village, Traditional Authority Kampingo-Sibande in Mzimba.