Three fined over suspected stolen railway materials

Three men have been convicted after they were found transporting railway materials they could not account for.

The conviction follows a police operation in Thyolo that intercepted a lorry loaded with railway components in the early hours of the morning, leading to the men’s arrest and prosecution.

State prosecutor Ishmael Abubast told the Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court in Thyolo that Andrew Maliwongo, 27, Richard Milward, 30, and Andrew Mpezeni, 22, were arrested around 3am on July 19, 2026, at a police checkpoint along the Thekerani, Makwasa, Thyolo Road.

Abubast said police intercepted a seven tonne lorry carrying 193 railway bars and 53 railway sleepers.

“We intercepted the lorry carrying 193 railway bars and 53 sleepers, and the accused failed to provide a satisfactory explanation on how they came into possession of the railway materials. This led to their arrest and subsequent prosecution,” he told the court.

The three pleaded guilty to possessing railway components suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.

Chief Resident Magistrate Shyreen Yona Chirwa fined Maliwongo and Milward K400,000 each or, in default, they will serve 18 months in prison.

The court also fined Mpezeni K200,000 or 12 months’ imprisonment in default after hearing that he had only been hired to transport the goods.

Maliwongo comes from Kulera Village under Traditional Authority M’biza in Zomba, Milward is from Bota Village under Traditional Authority Lundu in Blantyre, while Mpezeni hails from Gilioti Village under Traditional Authority Bvumbwe in Thyolo.