Fountain Nation has issued an official statement on the arrest of Bishop Medran Chirwa by the Malawi Police Service at the National Police Headquarters on 6 October 2026, in connection with the alleged murder of Tathokoza Salimu, who was employed by FDH Forex Bureau in Dowa at the time of her death.
In an Executive Memo from the Church’s Office of the President dated 9th October 2026, the church says it extends heartfelt condolences to the Salimu family following the tragic loss of their daughter, while reaffirming its unwavering position against murder and all forms of criminal conduct which violate the laws of the land and the teachings of the Word of God.
The statement indicates that Bishop Chirwa informed the Police that at the time of the alleged murder he was at Mbwatalika, on the outskirts of Lilongwe City, where he had gone to look for and purchase land, adding that three individuals he had engaged to assist him in identifying suitable land reportedly confirmed that they had been with him at the material time.
According to the church, police also searched the Bishop’s residence for the alleged murder weapon and other personal effects believed to belong to the deceased, but the search did not yield any such items. It says it understands the arrest may have been influenced, at least in part, by the police’s belief that he was the last person to have interacted with the deceased on the morning she was murdered.
Fountain Nation says it is not aware of evidence established through investigations conducted so far that conclusively connects the Bishop to the alleged offence, stressing that circumstances surrounding his whereabouts and other aspects of the investigation must be assessed objectively and in accordance with the law.
On due process, the church says it supports efforts by the Malawi Police Service to investigate the death and establish the truth, adding that following legal advice, Bishop Chirwa consented to remain in police custody for 72 hours to allow additional time for investigations before his appearance for remand proceedings.
The church says it recognizes the importance of allowing police sufficient opportunity to conduct investigations while emphasizing that rights of every person in custody must be respected in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Malawi, expressing confidence in the independence and impartiality of the courts to discharge responsibilities fairly.
The memo has also clarified reports alleging that Bishop Chirwa fled to Karonga, saying he accompanied the church President on an apostolic tour of the Northern Region, verifiable through official Facebook and YouTube updates, and that on Sunday, 27 September 2026, he was back at his station in Lilongwe where he led the church service and had not left since then, appealing to the public to refrain from speculation and unverified information.
Bishop Chirwa was arrested on 6th October at the National Police Headquarters in Lilongwe after police linked him to the murder case of Tathokoza Salimu. Police have indicated that he was picked up because they believe he was the last person to have interacted with the deceased on the morning she was murdered in Dowa. The arrest followed investigations into the matter, with the church maintaining that the case must be allowed to proceed through proper legal channels until the truth is established.
