A surge of brutal killings has remained persistent in the sectors of Area 25 in Lilongwe since May, 2025, with more than 5 deaths reported and some residents severely injured, and left to tell the story of terror.
The vice has left the community across the location’s breadth and length in total fear, with many resorting to staying indoors as early as 19:00hrs as the spate of attacks continues, with death lurking in the air.
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The accounts of those who survived the attacks are nerve chilling and they reveal a crisis requiring immediate attention from both authorities and the community.
“I had just closed my shop and I was cycling home when, suddenly, someone grabbed my neck from behind,” recounts one, Steven Phiri, a local liquor vendor at Msungwi Market.
“They started beating me mercilessly, demanding money and my phone; I passed out and I [later realized that] was rushed to hospital by passersby who found me lying unconscious,” continues Phiri, fear reflecting in his eyes.
While Phiri’s physical scars will remain a stark reminder of how close to death he once got, the emotional scars have brought out a dreadful feeling from deep within the Msungwi Market vendor.
“I’m too terrified to trust anyone near me: Even my own shadow scares me – yet I have to go out and fend for my household,” adds Phiri, the expression on his face clearly revealing a man in dilemma.
Tragically, not all residents attacked in the wake of the evil spate in Area 25 have been as “fortunate” as Phiri to share their stories.
On the night of June 30, 2025, one resident, Brian Nthondwa, was attacked and hacked to death near his home in Area 25, Sector 8, and his wife, Doreen – now a widow – still can’t believe that her husband will never come back home.
“My husband was attending a friend’s wedding and he planned to watch a soccer final afterward,” she recalls, her voice breaking as tears stream down her cheeks. “He never returned home.”
Neighbors found Nthondwa lying in a pool of his own blood and they rushed him to hospital; and by the time Doreen got there, her husband had long died.
“He died like an animal, just like that; and now I’m left with four children and a broken heart. I pray that the thugs be brought to book and account for their evil act,” laments Doreen, visibly broken down.
According to residents, other recorded murders in Area 25 include that of a bloc leader in Sector 6; another of a Form Four student at Dzenza Secondary School; and, even more heartbreaking, a woman whose body was dumped at Kabwabwa Cemetery behind Msungwi Market at around 19:00hrs.
By the dead mother’s side sat her four-year-old daughter physically unharmed but psychologically cut to pieces. It’s the crying of the helpless baby at the graveyard that drew the attention of the members of the community.
More recently reported murders in Area 25 involved a young man, a resident of Area 25 C on the night of July 7, 2025; and another of a resident of Sector 7 who met his fate around Kalambo Primary School in Msungwi, on the night of July 13, 2025.
The streets of Area 25 that once felt familiar and inviting continue to scare its residents, leaving everyone looking over their shoulders, not sure whether they will make it to their next destination, or home, in one complete piece.
Community neighbourhood watch groups in the sectors of Area 25 say they’re devastated with the persistent security lapse, despite their routine patrols.
According to chairperson for Msungwi Neighborhood Watch, Henry Madzimayera’s observation, most of the killings that have occurred so far in Area 25 lack motive.
“In some instances, the attackers often leave the victims dead without stealing any valuables: it’s as if the murderers just derive pleasure from the violence itself,” explains Madzimayera.
The neighborhood watch chairperson’s observation is also shared by Benjamin Maganizo Banda, a bloc leader in Sector 6, who opines that the killings are not motivated by theft, but rather by a “desire to kill”.
Like most chiefs in Area 25, Banda has also responded to the crisis by initiating a community watch program and he encourages residents to remain vigilant during night hours and that businesses should close earlier to prevent potential harm, or more deaths.
Meanwhile, community leaders in Area 25 have appealed to local businesses and well-wishers to assist with self-defense training and equipment to community watch groups.
“We have written letters to companies to assist us with torches and other gear to help us deal with the perpetrators of these attacks and murders,” explains Banda, adding that there has also been strong collaboration between the community structures and Kanengo Police Station.
On the other hand, the Malawi Police Service (MPS), through the Kanengo Police Station has been on the ground to contain the situation as evidenced by a number of arrests that have been effected in the past two months.
On the night of June 3, 2025, Kanengo police station, joined by officers from Lilongwe, Kawale, and Lingadzi police stations, conducted an operation that targeted hotspots including Mgona, Nankhaka River, Area 49 Mvama, and Area 25 sectors 7 and 8.
The joint operation yielded 108 arrests for various offenses around Kanengo Police’s area of jurisdiction, according to media reports.
The police’s efforts, in collaboration with the residents, have led to further arrests, including seven suspects identified as Robert Petro, Leonard Kamphale, Patrick Mtengula, Thokozani Henry, Madalitso Chidzanja, Richard Moyo, and Henry Ebele.
The seven were arrested on July 7, 2025, in connection with various criminal activities, including robbery of cash and valuables worth about K40 million from a businessman in Area 25C on June 25, 2025.
Although the arrests above might not directly be in connection with the surge in the killings, the Malawi police are on to something regarding the violence surge.
“We know that there’s an increase in violence crimes in Area 25 and other areas under the station, among them, Area 49, Mgona, Kanengo industrial area,” explains National Police Spokesperson Peter Kalaya in an interview.
“We want to assure all Malawians that, as a Service, we have not taken this lightly: We are on top of it and our detectives have got leads they’re following and I can assure the public that we’re going to round the culprits up soon,” adds Kalaya.
According to him, the police in Kanengo, in collaboration with community policing forums have intensified day-and-night foot and vehicle patrols in Area 25 and the rest of the areas under Kanengo Police Station.
The MPS are also having increased engagement with local leaders i.e. chiefs, bloc leaders, political leaders and religious leaders to increase monitoring of the areas as the assailants could be from within.
The law enforcers have also increased awareness on the need for people not to walk around, alone, at odd hours, and for the public to make use of the numbers they are given to alert the police in cases of emergency.
“We’re not saying people should not walk at night – people walk at night for various reasons; but we’re saying when walking late in the night be in a company of at least three for your safety,” explains Kalaya.
He further appeals to the public to desist from sensationalizing issues of security concern on social media, saying this instils fear in the people living in the concerned community.
“Sensationalism creates fear of crime among the residents, and fear of crime is more dangerous than the crime itself as it brings mistrust and accusations that may lead to mob justice, fueling the very vice we are trying to stamp out,” he concludes.
