Balaka man arrested for selling fried dog meat

A 31 year old Malawian man in Balaka district is in police custody for allegedly selling dog meat at Njerenje Trading Centre in the district.

Balaka Police and Group Village Headwoman Phimbi of the area have confirmed the arrest and identified the suspect as Ishmael Jumbe.

According to Group Village Headwoman Phimbi, the issue came to light after the son of a man who ate the meat told his father that he saw the suspect skinning a dog at his home.

“When they asked the suspect what he did with the meat, he revealed to have cooked it and sold it as “mang’ina” at the trading centre,” said Phimbi.

Balaka Police public relations officer, Inspector Joseph Sauka told Malawi24 in an interview that upon being interrogated at Balaka Police Station, the suspect revealed that he started selling dog meat long time ago when he was in Blantyre.

Said Sauka: “The suspect revealed that he started selling dog meat long time ago when he was living at Mbayani in Blantyre and said he used to sell it at the tavern during night time. He said he left Blantyre after the death of his friend Samson who he was selling the meat with.”

According to Sauka, Jumbe said he bought the dog at the price of K1000 at Njerenje Trading Centre as if he wanted to tame it and confessed that he used to sell ‘mang’ina’ of dog meat at Shire railway station and said he also eats dog meat.

All the people who ate the meat were referred to Phimbi Health Centre where they were treated as outpatients.

Meanwhile, the suspect is still in police custody expecting to appear before court soon where he will answer a case of conduct likely to cause a breach of peace which is contrary to section 181 of the Penal code.

Jumbe comes from Kangaude village, Traditional Authority Nkaya in the same district of Balaka.