By Rahim Abdul
Police in Monkey Bay, Mangochi District, have arrested two men Brasco Mhango, aged 31 and Tiyamike Chiume, 31 years old for allegedly stealing a boat engine and fuel tank belonging to the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Maritime Unit.
Monkey Bay Police spokesperson Alice Sichali confirmed the arrest, saying the incident occurred between October 3 and 4, 2025, around 5 a.m., when the soldiers were on duty near the lake.
According to Sichali, the soldiers discovered that their Digger-type boat was missing its Yamaha 15 Horse Power engine and fuel tank. The missing equipment is said to be critical for the soldiers’ patrol operations on Lake Malawi, particularly in preventing illegal fishing, smuggling and border-related crimes.
Sichali further explained that on October 5, the MDF officers received a tip from well-wishers that two men were attempting to sell a boat engine and fuel tank suspected to be the stolen property in the Mvunguti area.
Acting on the information, the police and soldiers jointly launched an investigation, which led to the arrest of the suspects.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the MDF boat had drifted ashore after being blown off by strong winds on the lake. The suspects allegedly found it floating and decided to remove the engine and fuel tank before taking them away for personal gain.
Both Mhango and Chiume, who hail from Sumbi Village under Traditional Authority Nakumba in Mangochi, are expected to appear before court soon to answer charges of theft of government property.
Police have since warned members of the public against tampering with or stealing state property, emphasizing that such offenses attract stiff penalties.
Meanwhile, the MDF has commended the collaboration between community members, police, and soldiers in tracking down the suspects, calling it an example of effective civil security cooperation.
