By Shaffie A Mtambo
Police at Nathenje, in Lilongwe, have arrested Youngstone Kaunda, aged 38, for being found with a riffle and 207 bullets (pellets), without a permit.
He threatening to shoot people at Reuben Village, Traditional Authority Kalumbu, on March 21, 2025.
Lilongwe Police Public Relations Officer Inspector Hestings Chigalu,says on the said day at around 11:00 hours, working on a tip-off from well wishers, detectives at Nathenje Police Post, went to the village to hunt for the suspect who had just returned home from his hiding after he hacked a certain person in his house using a panga knife at around 02:00 hours.
Chigalu added that Police learnt that the suspect, while armed with a gun and while firing several shots in the air, was going around door by door during night time, awakening and threatening to shoot people, especially women, simply for suspecting that their children were responsible for the theft of his [Kaunda] potatoes.
After arrest of the suspect, detectives also seized the firearm along with the 207 bullets.
The firearm which is yet to be identified by name, will be taken to the Firearms and Ballistics Department at the National Police Headquarters for analysis.
He will be taken to court soon to face Illegal Possession of a Firearm, among other charges.
Meanwhile, communities in the village have hailed the police for it’s swift action on the same, saying many women who were forced to free the village by the suspect’s behavior, have now returned to their homes.
Youngstone Kaunda hails from Reuben Village, T/A Kalumbu in Lilongwe District.
