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By Suleman Chitera, Lilongwe, Malawi

Central Poultry (CP), one of Malawi’s leading poultry producers, has reported losses exceeding K2.5 billion following a series of thefts at six of its facilities in the Mpingu area

According to CP spokesperson Jessica Kadzakumanja, the incidents involved the theft of chickens and other property and come just days after a similar break-in at Thanzi Farm in M’bwatalika, Lilongwe. In both cases, significant quantities of livestock and equipment were stolen.

“Although police investigations are ongoing, we estimate the total value of the stolen items to be over 2.5 billion kwacha,” Kadzakumanja said. She added that the motive behind the coordinated attacks remains unclear. “We are waiting for the outcome of the investigations to fully understand what is driving these incidents,” she said.

In response, Vitumbiko Mumba, Second Vice President of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the current Minister of Trade, visited the affected sites to assess the damage and meet with local community members and CP officials. The government is expected to work closely with law enforcement and stakeholders to prevent further attacks and ensure accountability.

These incidents have raised concerns about security for agribusinesses operating in peri-urban and rural areas, with calls for increased protection measures and swift action from authorities.