The Atlas Malawi

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A soldier from Kamuzu Barracks, Diof Simaone, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison with hard labour for having s*x with a 15-year-old girl.

The court heard through prosecutor Thandizo Chingalu that Simaone started dating the girl in 2025 and got her pregnant.

He initially agreed to take care of the child but later ran away. The girl's mother reported him to Area 23 Police who arrested him.

The state asked the court to give a harsh sentence to warn others who abuse young children.

Senior Resident Magistrate Brecious Kondowe agreed, saying such cases are common in Lilongwe. He sentenced Simaone to 20 years in prison with hard labour.

A 31-year-old man identified as Romario Lolenzo has been arrested by Lingadzi Police Station for the offence of unlawful use of fi****ms and acts intended to cause grievous harm.

Public Relations Officer for Lingadzi Police Station Sergeant Maria Kumwenda says the suspect and the victim Zakir M***a Hamdan were at LeyLand Bar at Bwandiro drinking beers.

"Whilst there, the owner of the bar Fauzia Issa asked the suspect to pay the previous bill of K116,000 which made the suspect angry and became violent," Kumwenda revealed.

He pulled out a pistol and fired in the air, and then on the ground.

"Then a brother to the victim Yazeed M***a Hamdan pushed the suspect to the ground as he wanted to grab the riffle, prompting Lorenzo to shoot twice in the buttocks of Zakir M***a Hamdan," she added.

The victim was brought to Lingadzi Police Station where he was referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital for treatment.

According to Kumwenda, investigations are currently underway to establish whether the pistol which had 11 live ammunition, is legally registered.

Meanwhile, the condition of the victim is improving.

Team ya Mighty Wanderers yalengeza kuti yayimitsa ntchito mphunzitsi wake Bob Mpinganjira kutsatira kugonja ndi team ya Ekhaya mu ndime yomaliza ya chikho cha Airtel Top 8.

Mu chikalata chimene wasayinira mulembi wa board ya Wanderers a Chancy Gondwe, team-yi yati ilengeza za yemwe akhale mphunzitsi ongogwirizira mkatikati mwa ma ola 48.

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Former KB FC player convicted of s*xually assaulting a child

Kamuzu Barracks soldier Diof Simaone has been convicted of having s*xual in*******se with a minor, aged 15.

His sentencing is scheduled next week Tuesday.

According to Central West Region Police PRO Sub Inspector, Foster Benjamin
, Simaone, aged 36, was found guilty on Friday August 28 2026 before Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate's Court.

Central West Region police prosecutor Sub Inspector Thandizo Chingaru told the court that the convict, between April and August 2025, had s*xual in*******se with the child four times--three times at a guest house in Area 44 and one time at his own house--and eventually impregnated her.

Simaone informed the victim's mother about this and promised to support the victim, a thing which he didn't do, until the girl gave birth in January 2026.

The victim's mother reported the issue to Area 23 Police Unit which arrested the convict.

At his trial, Simaone pleaded not guilty, prompting the State to parade four witnesses to prove its case beyond any doubt.

He was eventually found guilty as charged.

Prosecutor Chingaru prayed that the court mete out its harshest sentence arguing Simaone, being a military officer, was supposed to protect the girl, not abusing her.

In mitigation, Simaone asked the court not to send him to prison because doing so he wouldn't have chance to support the victim and her baby boy.

He also asked the victim, the victim's mother, the court and the whole nation to forgive him because what he did was wrong.

In his ruling, Senior Resident Bracious Kondowe found the accused guilty and convicted him accordingly.

Meanwhile, Kondowe has reserved his sentence to next week.

Simaone comes from Nakoka Village Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba District.

The Chief Executive Officer of Blantyre Water Board, Yeremia Chihana, has been suspended from duty.

According to a letter which we, the board members made the decision today, 28 August 2026.

The board says Chihana is violating work rules and they want to investigate him first.

The letter also states that Chihana should not go to the board's offices or communicate with suppliers to the board until the investigation is complete.

Two arrested over Church equipment theft in Lumbadzi

Police in Lumbadzi have arrested two men in connection with the theft of church sound equipment valued at K7.9 million from Lumbadzi Assemblies of God Church.

According to Lumbadzi Police Station Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Felix Kwinyani, the incident occurred between the night of August 16 and August 23, 2026, when unknown criminals broke into the church and went away with two hybrid digital amplifiers and one crossover.

"Following investigations, detectives received information that the stolen equipment was being offered for sale in Mchinji. The detectives posed as potential buyers and arranged a meeting with one of the suspects, leading to the arrest of 22-year-old Hazia Grand of Kamkoma Village, Traditional Authority Nthache in Neno District.

Grand subsequently led "the detectives to a place where the stolen equipment had been kept. Police recovered the two amplifiers and one crossover, which were positively identified by the church clerk as the property stolen during the break-in.

"Further investigations led police to Kasungu, where they arrested 26-year-old Chimwemwe Jere of Lukwa Village, Traditional Authority Symon in Neno District.

"Jere allegedly disclosed that he and another accomplice broke into the church and stole the equipment," he said

The two suspects are expected to appear before court soon to answer charges of breaking into a building and committing a felony therein, as investigations into the matter continue.