LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Police Service in Dedza have arrested three suspects in connection with the murder of Sibusiso Mponda, a transport engineer with Central East African Railways (CEAR), and Lupiya, a minibus driver from Zomba.
The suspects have been identified as Kennedy Demson (29), Barbra Mkwezalamba, a woman (25) and Witmam Elisa (19).
National Police deputy publicist Alfred Chinthere told this publication that the deceased Mponda was driving a CEAR vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series, from Lilongwe to Blantyre on the evening of the incident, which was January 25, 2026.
“When he reached Bunda Turnoff near Mount Meru Filling Station, he reportedly picked up four passengers who were seeking transport (matola).
“Among them were the three suspects. The fourth passenger was Lupiya, who had travelled to Lilongwe to deliver a minibus on behalf of his employer,” says Chinthere.
He added, “The time of departure was estimated at around 6:15 PM, based on a phone call Lupiya made to his employer informing him he was leaving Lilongwe.
“While along the way, the three suspects attacked both Mponda and Lupiya”.
The Police publicist explains further, “Lupiya’s body was later discovered in a maize field in Kafere Village, GVH Tsumbi, Traditional Authority Kachere, near the Dzalanyama Forest.
“Investigators are still trying to establish how the suspects accessed the area, as it is far from the main road”.
Meanwhile, Mponda is believed to have been shot near Lizulu in Ntcheu.
The suspects then allegedly drove the vehicle towards Dedza, where it was later abandoned near the Dedza police roadblock.
Police officers were alerted by tip-offs from members of the public about a suspicious vehicle with blood stains. Upon inspection, they found Mponda’s body inside the car.
With assistance from mobile service providers TNM and Airtel, investigators tracked the deceased’s mobile phones, which led to the arrest of the three suspects.
The police publicist adds that the suspects were found in possession of the stolen phones, a pistol, clothes, and other items believed to belong to the deceased.
Lupiya’s death had initially been treated as a separate incident.
However, during questioning, the suspects reportedly linked it to the same attack.
Engineer Mponda was a graduate of the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), class of 2022.
He previously worked as an intern at the Roads Authority and later as a site engineer at Adobe Construction before joining CEAR.
Lupiya was based in Chinamwali, Zomba.
The suspects, who are all from Traditional Authority (T.A) Malili in Lilongwe, are expected to appear in court to answer murder charges once investigations are completed.