Legal experts fault police for livestreaming probe, warning it may prejudice suspects’ right to a fair trial.

By The Forum

The Malawi Police Service (MPS) has arrested six men suspected of being involved in the killing of a medical doctor in Blantyre, a case that shook the nation.

Dr Victoria Bobe, 33, a lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), was fatally shot by unknown assailants during a break-in at her home in Chigumula Township in November 2025. Several portable electronic gadgets were stolen during the incident.

Malawi Police Service public relations officer Lael Chimtembo said the arrests were the result of information obtained during interrogations of the suspects.

“The breakthrough follows detailed confessions of six suspects in connection to the crime,” said Chimtembo, who is a senior superintendent.

Police said the suspects, aged between 35 and 62, are in custody while investigations continue. Two additional suspects are still at large.

Police arrest 6 in killing of Blantyre doctor as lawyers raise concerns MediaGov — ***Dr Victoria Bobe, the Blantyre-based obstetrician and gynaecologist whose killing shocked the nation.***

According to police, one of the suspects, identified as Raphael Msalangama Mano, is a former police and intelligence officer from Gaza Province in Mozambique.

“The Malawi Police Service assures the public of its continued commitment to ensuring that all suspects involved in this crime are brought to justice,” Chimtembo said.

On Wednesday, officers from the South West Police Division took the suspects back to the crime scene to reconstruct how the murder was allegedly committed.

While the arrests have been widely welcomed by the public, the police decision to livestream parts of the investigation from the victim’s home has attracted mixed reactions.

Lawyers Sylvester Ayuba James and Khumbo Soko have criticised the move, describing it as unprofessional and potentially prejudicial.

Writing on his Facebook page, Ayuba James accused the police of seeking public validation and warned that the presumption of innocence must be respected.

Soko echoed the concerns, urging investigators to avoid actions that could inflame public emotions and undermine a fair trial.

“They must play to the judge. He or she is the only one that matters,” Soko wrote. “They must aim to compile a solid docket that closes obvious gaps exploited by defence counsel. In fact, they must work in silence, literally in the dark. Their vindication comes in court.”

Dr Bobe’s killing sparked widespread public outrage and renewed calls for stronger security measures, particularly for professionals and residents in urban areas.

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