Police in Mangochi have arrested four people for giving false information in an attempt to register their names at Mwansa Ward, which is not their jurisdiction.
The incident occurred on June 14, 2024, at St. Augustine 2 Primary School within Ntagaluka area in the district.
The four, among them three females, have been identified as Amina Wilson, 37, Christina John, 40, Esnart Rashid, 48, and Morris Asima, 51.
Currently, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is conducting a registration exercise for the By-elections for Mwansa Ward Councillor at St. Augustine 2 Primary School in the district.
On the specified date, the four went to the said centre in an attempt to register their names despite being ineligible. Upon being quizzed by Political Party Monitors, it was discovered that all suspects were not from the said area, prompting the monitors to report the incident to the police, leading to their instant arrest.
The quartet have each been charged with attempting to obtain registration by giving false information contrary to section 115(a)(i) as read with section 3(c) of the President, Parliamentary, and Local Government Elections Act, and giving false information to a public officer contrary to section 122 of the Penal Code.
The four already appeared before court, where each pleaded not guilty to both charges. In the meantime, the case has been adjourned to June 20, 2024, and the four have been remanded at Mangochi Prison.
Police in Mangochi are therefore urging communities outside Mwansa Ward to refrain from intruding and interrupting the peaceful exercise and to allow only eligible citizens to participate in the registration process.
Wilson hails from Chipalamawamba village, Traditional Authority Mapira in Mangochi, while the other three come from M’baluku village, Traditional Authority Chowe in the same district.
lnspector Amina Tepani Daudi
Public Relations Officer- Mangochi Police Station
Cell:0999-706-525
Email:amina.tepani@police.gov.mw