By Twink Jones Gadama
In a shocking turn of events, a 30-year-old businesswoman, Rita Mkandawire, has been arrested by the Mzuzu Police for allegedly duping her best friend, Cecilia Chinyama, out of MK41 million under the guise of a business partnership.
According to Sergeant Cecilia Mfune, Deputy Public Relations Officer at Mzuzu Police Station, Mkandawire and Chinyama started a joint business venture in July 2024, aimed at buying agricultural inputs. However, things took a sour turn when Mkandawire began demanding more money from Chinyama to “boost the business.” Mkandawire allegedly used various phone numbers to pretend to be a customer, assuring Chinyama that the business was thriving.
Chinyama’s suspicions were raised when she failed to receive any profits from the business and discovered that all the phone numbers used by the “clients” were registered in Mkandawire’s name. Chinyama reported the incident to the Mzuzu Police Station, leading to Mkandawire’s arrest on February 11, 2025.
During the arrest, police seized seven phones allegedly used by Mkandawire to commit the crimes. Mkandawire, a resident of Mtiweranyifwa Village in Karonga district, will soon face charges of theft/fraud other than false pretence.
This incident serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of trust and transparency in business partnerships. As the police continue to investigate this case, it remains to be seen how the court will rule on Mkandawire’s fate.
