Two Arrested Over K48 Million Government Stationery Fraud

Police in Lilongwe have arrested two men accused of defrauding Central Government Stores of stationery worth K48 million by posing as employees of Ntcheu and Thyolo District Councils.

The suspects, Reuben Nzandu, 42, and Joseph Phiri, 50, allegedly used forged National Bank cheques and fake official documents to obtain stationery from government offices in Lilongwe and Blantyre.

According to police, the first incident occurred on April 28, 2026, at Central Government Stores in Area 4, Lilongwe, where the suspects allegedly used a forged cheque purportedly belonging to Ntcheu District Council to purchase stationery worth K20.4 million.

Lilongwe Police Public Relations Officer Inspector Hastings Chigalu said the cheque was later rejected by the bank after discrepancies were detected, although the suspects had already collected the goods and provided fake contact details.

Chigalu added that while investigations were underway, detectives uncovered a similar case in Blantyre where the suspects allegedly posed as employees of Thyolo District Council in an attempt to obtain stationery worth K28 million using another forged cheque.

Police intercepted the suspects before they could leave Central Government Stores in Blantyre with the goods, which had already been loaded into a 3-tonne Mazda lorry.

Several exhibits were recovered during the operation, including forged cheques, fake Local Purchase Orders, and payment vouchers linked to different councils.

Inspector Chigalu said the arrests demonstrate the police’s commitment to combating fraud, warning that anyone involved in such crimes will be tracked down and brought to justice.

The suspects are expected to appear in court soon to answer charges of fraud, forgery, and impersonation of public officers.

Nzandu comes from Kafwafwa Village in Traditional Authority Kalumo, Mchinji District, while Phiri is from Malembe Village in Traditional Authority Chitukula, Lilongwe District.