By Alfred Banda
LILONGWE-(MANA)-The Malawi Police Service in Lilongwe have arrested a 35-year-old man for allegedly stealing a cellphone and cash after duping a woman under the guise of performing rituals meant to prevent her husband from engaging in extra-marital affairs.
Lilongwe Police Spokesperson, Hastings Chigalu, identified the suspect as Petro Kalanje, from Kalima Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Masasa in Ntcheu District.
The incident occurred on December 24, 2025, at Area 36 in Lilongwe, while the woman’s husband was away from home.
Chigalu said Kalanje, together with an accomplice who is still at large, went to the woman’s house carrying various types of purported herbal medicines, claiming they had supernatural powers to “lock” a man’s sexual organs to prevent infidelity.
“The suspect convinced the woman, who suspected her husband of engaging in extra-marital affairs, and was invited into the house where he asked to perform rituals in the bedroom,” said Chigalu.
During the process, the suspect asked the woman to surrender her Techno POP 7 cellphone, claiming he needed to apply magic to it so that the husband would be instantly affected upon touching the phone.
“He then instructed the victim to take some herbal medicines to Area 36 Market to complete final rituals, while he remained in the house,” Chigalu explained.
Upon returning, the woman discovered that the suspect had vanished. Her cellphone and K25,000 cash, which had been wrapped and hidden behind a mattress, were also missing.
The matter was not immediately reported to police as the suspect went into hiding.
However, over the weekend, the woman spotted Kalanje within Lilongwe City and mobilised well-wishers who assisted apprehending him before handing him over to police at Area 3.
Police said during questioning, the suspect confessed to deceiving the woman and stealing the cellphone and cash.
Kalanje will soon appear in court to answer the charge of theft.
Meanwhile, police have advised the public to remain vigilant and avoid granting strangers access to their homes, noting that some individuals exploit people’s beliefs to commit criminal offences.