By Rahim Abdul
Quick action by alert community members has helped police in Lilongwe avert a potentially deadly incident after military-grade explosives were discovered in a village garden.
The incident unfolded at Nkhulawe Village under Traditional Authority Tsabango, where a routine farming activity nearly turned tragic when a villager unknowingly came across a dangerous object buried in his field.
The discovery was made on Wednesday, December 18, 2025, around 5:00pm, when 30-year-old Willard Daiton noticed a strange green, oval-shaped metal object while cultivating his garden. Unaware of the danger at first, Daiton carried the object home.
Suspicion quickly grew among fellow villagers who recognised that the object could pose a serious threat. Their concerns prompted them to alert Village Headman Nkhulawe, who immediately reported the matter to Kawale Police Station.
Police responded swiftly, assembling a multi-agency team that included Criminal Investigations Department officers, explosives experts from Police Headquarters, Malawi Defence Force Military Police, Unified Command and Intelligence Office officials, and Kawale CID officers.
After assessing the situation, explosives experts confirmed that the object was a live rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), capable of causing massive destruction if mishandled. The device was safely transported to an isolated location where it was detonated in a controlled explosion.
The blast, which was heard across surrounding villages, drew further attention to the seriousness of the situation. Shortly afterwards, another villager voluntarily surrendered a second RPG explosive of the same calibre, which he had been keeping in his house after an earlier discovery.
Police have since taken custody of the second device for further forensic examination as investigations intensify to establish how such dangerous military equipment ended up in a civilian settlement.
Authorities have praised the villagers for their cooperation and responsible behaviour, noting that their timely reporting played a crucial role in preventing possible loss of life and destruction of property. Police have urged the public to immediately report any suspicious objects and avoid touching them.
Investigations into the source of the explosives are still underway.