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Two people were murdered inside their houses within two days in Chiradzulu last week forcing the police to deploy many officers in the area who have since arrested three people.
A visit by Nation Online to the area on Wednesday revealed four police tents that have been erected at Montfort Demonstration School, two more at St Theresa Primary School and another at a road block at Malabvi along the Midima Road. A group of both plain clothes and uniform officers were seen patrolling the area.
Some tired looking police officers were seen sleeping close to their tents while others were patrolling the area in vehicles: a Land-Rover registration number MP 1819, two Land-Cruisers; MP 1666 and MP 1712.
Two other Land-Cruisers, whose registration numbers were not visible, were seen packed close to the tents at St Theresa, with a group of officers lying around the vehicles.
Residents around Montfort College and St Theresa, who did not want to be named, said the police officers started arriving in the area on Sunday, a day after a woman only identified as Regina was murdered and had her intestines and heart removed while sleeping in her house.
Members of a parliamentary committee on social and community affairs, who are on a country-wide fact finding mission were on Tuesday told by Traditional Authority Likoswe that police started 24-hour patrols in the district last week to ensure security.
Likoswe said the deceased came from the area of Group Village Headman Mlanjira.
“I was called by police after the night of the incident where we discussed the problem. It was after that meeting that police started the patrols,” said Likoswe.
The traditional leader told the committee that he is puzzled that Chiradzulu is usually the target of murderers.
“I believe there are people who always want to steal our peace here. But I tell you this is very unfair because one can’t enjoy life while living in fear,” he said.
Chairperson of the Committee Thyolo Thava MP Trifonia Dafter said the team will take up the matter with the main Committee.
“After the discussions we will make recommendations which we will present in Parliament during the next Parliament sitting,” said Dafter.
“But I think the issue also needs Ministry of Defence’s intervention,” said Dafter.
People who were interviewed Wednesday said there have been over 10 murders in the area since November and that all of them were “somehow mysterious”.
“We’re living in fear. Even our MP [member of Parliament] knows all this. He’s been here and has been buying coffins for the victims,” said one woman who pleaded not to be named for fear of losing her life.
MP for the area Friday Jumbe, who addressed a rally in Malabvi on Sunday, confirmed on Wednesday that he bought two coffins — one on Thursday and another on Saturday — for people who had been “murdered inside their houses”.
“I normally buy coffins for people in my area but I was shocked at these two’s deaths since the people were murdered inside their houses,” said Jumbe.
On January 24, investigations by Nation Online revealed that an 11-year-old girl, Triphonia Golden was attacked about five metres from her mother’s house but police dismissed the reports as untrue.
Since 2000, mysterious murders have been reported from Chiradzulu with women having their private parts and eyes removed.
Police spokesman Willie Mwaluka refused to comment on Wednesday, saying a press statement was issued on the matter. But no such statement reached Nation Online.
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