Mchinji police through its Kamwendo lower formation has hailed a team of local youths who volunteered themselves to assist police in providing security in their communities around Kamwendo Trading Centre in Mchinji as Community Policing Forum (CPF) members have last night, May 4, 2024 intercepted a bicycle and recovered stolen rail property whose suspects have bolted.

The CPF team was on the routine night patrol duties along the railway line that crossed the Trading Centre, following intensification of patrols by police to tighten security along the rail that have been looted and stolen for long making rail transport impossible in Mchinji.

During that night, the CPF members bumped into two criminals who were on the bicycle with 15 metallic pieces suspected to have been stolen from the rail and bolted upon being spotted.

Meanwhile, the stolen items recovered and the bicycle have been handed-over to Kamwendo Police for further inquires to bring the culprits to book.

Recently, Central East Africa Railways (CEAR) engaged Mchinji Police Station regarding the vandalism and theft of rail property in mapping-out the way forward to monitor the situation and safeguard the rail development.

Meanwhile, the Officer In-Charge for Mchinji Police, Mr John Wilson Nkhoma SACP, has urged the CEAR officials to clear-out bushes along the rail that are making some areas to be impassable during patrolling that could also be used as hide-outs for the looters.

Police are tirelessly working jointly with the CPFs in Mchinji to contain the situation by revamping Community security structures along areas that were crossed by the rail, provision of working materials to the CPFs like reflectors ,torches, whistles, to assist them during their operations.