By Dan Mughogho
Published: October 10, 2026
Updated: October 12, 2026
Malawi’s investigation into the death of former FDH Bank employee Tathokoza Salimu has drawn national attention following the arrest and remand of Bishop Medran Chirwa of Fountain of Victory Church in Lilongwe.
Chirwa, 41, was arrested by police in connection with Salimu’s death after investigators reportedly examined call records indicating that the two had been together on the day she died. The 31-year-old woman was found dead inside a vehicle at Chinkhota Village, near Tatolonga Bridge along the Dzaleka–Dowa Boma Road, on September 21, 2026.
The case has taken another turn after Fountain of Victory International Church publicly defended the bishop, challenged reports that he fled to avoid arrest and presented an account of his whereabouts that it says investigators should consider.
Chirwa has been remanded in custody while the legal process moves forward. The allegations against him have not been proven in court, and the investigation remains ongoing.
What Happened to Tathokoza Salimu?
Salimu was found dead inside a motor vehicle at Chinkhota Village in Malawi’s Dowa District on September 21.
According to reports citing Dowa Police, road users alerted authorities after noticing a vehicle parked along the road with its engine running. Officers who arrived at the scene found Salimu on the passenger seat of a black Subaru Impreza, with a wound to her neck.
Police reportedly recovered documents and personal items bearing her name from the vehicle, including an FDH Bank identification card and a smartphone.
Salimu had worked for FDH Bank at its Dzaleka branch and was reportedly on holiday at the time of her death.
A postmortem examination found that she died from a penetrating neck injury that damaged the C2–C3 section of her spine. The findings were reported as consistent with a gunshot wound.
Her death prompted a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding her final movements and the people she had contact with before she was found.
Why Was Bishop Medran Chirwa Arrested?
Police arrested Chirwa in connection with the investigation, with reports stating that he was taken into custody at National Police Headquarters in Lilongwe on October 6, 2026.
Dowa Police spokesperson Alice Sitima said preliminary findings from call records indicated that Chirwa and Salimu had been together on the day of the incident.
Investigators are examining the circumstances of their contact as they work to establish what happened before Salimu’s death.
Reports have also raised questions about Chirwa’s movements after the incident. Police-linked accounts suggested that he travelled to Karonga, changed phone numbers or devices, and was subsequently traced by investigators. Those details form part of the reported allegations and should not be treated as proof of responsibility for the death.
The church has disputed the suggestion that Chirwa went to Karonga to evade law enforcement. It says his travel to the Northern Region was connected to an official church tour.
Police have also indicated that they are continuing their investigation and seeking other people who may be connected to the case.
For more coverage of crime investigations in Malawi, read Newsaih’s report on the police rescue operation involving a British woman in Blantyre.
Fountain of Victory Church Challenges Reports About the Bishop
Following Chirwa’s arrest, Fountain of Victory International Church issued a statement signed by its president and founder, Apostle Joseph Ziba.
The church expressed condolences to Salimu’s family and said it believed that anyone found responsible for her death should face the law. It also urged the public not to reach conclusions before the investigation and court process had established the facts.
However, the statement challenged reports suggesting that Chirwa had fled to avoid arrest.
According to Ziba, Chirwa had accompanied him on an official apostolic tour of Malawi’s Northern Region. The church said that the itinerary was documented through its official social media channels.
The statement further said Chirwa had returned to Lilongwe by September 27 and led a church service that day. According to the church, he remained in the city until his arrest on October 6.
These claims represent the church’s account of the bishop’s movements. They have not, by themselves, resolved the questions investigators are examining.
Church Presents an Alibi for the Day of the Incident
One of the most significant points in the church’s statement concerns Chirwa’s reported whereabouts on September 21.
According to Ziba, the bishop told investigators that he had been at Mbwatalika, on the outskirts of Lilongwe, looking for land to purchase when the alleged murder occurred.
The church said three individuals who had been engaged to help him identify suitable land reportedly confirmed that they were with him during that period.
It also said police searched Chirwa’s residence but did not find the alleged murder weapon or personal belongings believed to have belonged to Salimu.
These are claims made by the church, and their significance depends on what investigators can independently establish. The reported search results do not, on their own, determine whether Chirwa was involved or uninvolved in the crime.
The timing and scope of the reported alibi are also important. Investigators would need to establish the relevant timeline, including Salimu’s movements and communications on the day she died, before any conclusions could be reached.
The church has called for the evidence to be assessed objectively and for Chirwa’s rights to be respected throughout the legal process.
What Happened When Chirwa Appeared in Court?
Chirwa appeared before the Mkukula First Grade Magistrate Court following his arrest.
According to reporting by Nyasa Times, the magistrate said the court did not have jurisdiction to hear the murder case at first instance. Chirwa was consequently ordered to remain in custody at Maula Prison until the High Court takes up the matter.
The decision concerned the court’s jurisdiction and the next procedural stage of the case. It was not a ruling that Chirwa was guilty of murder.
Reports indicated that no plea had been taken and that the murder allegations had not been tested in court at that stage.
The remand means Chirwa remains in custody while the case proceeds through the appropriate legal process. Further developments will depend on the steps taken by investigators and the court.
Readers can also follow Newsaih’s coverage of a major police investigation into a SIM card-swapping fraud in Malawi.
Police Investigation Continues
Police have said investigations are ongoing and that other suspects may be connected to the case.
Call records have been cited as part of the investigation into the relationship and contact between Chirwa and Salimu. However, contact between two people on the day of a crime does not, by itself, establish who committed it.
Investigators will need to assess the available evidence, establish the timeline of events and determine whether the information gathered supports the allegations.
The reported medical findings establish the nature of Salimu’s fatal injury, while the accounts concerning Chirwa’s movements and the church’s alibi remain matters for further investigation.
The police investigation and any subsequent court proceedings will be important in determining what happened and whether anyone should be held criminally responsible.
Earlier Case Involving Apostle Joseph Ziba
The arrest has also renewed public attention on an earlier case involving Apostle Joseph Ziba, the founder and president of Fountain of Victory International Ministries.
Reports from 2018 said Ziba and businessman Tayub Aziz were arrested in connection with allegations involving duty evasion and cheating public revenue in a case reportedly involving K26 million. The allegations concerned a luxury Range Rover and duties and penalties said to be outstanding.
That earlier case is separate from the investigation into Salimu’s death. Its existence does not establish any connection between Ziba and the current murder allegations against Chirwa.
The two matters should be assessed independently and according to the evidence and legal proceedings associated with each.
Why the Case Has Attracted Public Attention
The death of a bank employee and the arrest of a prominent church leader have placed the case under close public scrutiny in Malawi.
The investigation raises important questions about the circumstances surrounding Salimu’s death, the evidence police are examining and whether the different accounts of Chirwa’s whereabouts can be reconciled.
The church’s public response has added another dimension to the story by presenting an alternative account of the bishop’s movements and asking that the investigation proceed fairly.
At the same time, public attention should not replace the work of investigators or the authority of the courts. Allegations, statements by police and claims made by the church must be distinguished from facts established through evidence and legal proceedings.
Salimu’s family deserves answers about her death, while the accused is entitled to due process. A thorough investigation is essential to establishing the truth.
For another report involving a fatal incident and questions about police accountability, see Newsaih’s coverage of the fatal shooting of a driver in Zomba.
What Happens Next in the Bishop Chirwa Case?
The next stage will depend on the ongoing investigation and proceedings before the appropriate court.
Investigators are expected to continue examining the available evidence, including the reported call records and the accounts of people who may be able to confirm Chirwa’s whereabouts. Police have also indicated that they are pursuing other possible suspects.
The church has called for a fair investigation and urged the public to avoid speculation. Any defence presented by Chirwa will need to be considered through the proper legal process.
Until the evidence is tested in court, the allegations remain allegations. The remand order should not be interpreted as a conviction or a finding that Chirwa committed the crime.
Newsaih will continue to follow developments in the case as further verified information becomes available.
Key Facts About the Tathokoza Salimu Case
- Deceased: Tathokoza Salimu, 31
- Occupation: Reported former FDH Bank employee at the Dzaleka branch
- Date her body was found: September 21, 2026
- Location: Chinkhota Village, near Tatolonga Bridge, Dowa District, Malawi
- Arrested suspect: Bishop Medran Chirwa, 41
- Church: Fountain of Victory Church, Lilongwe
- Arrest date: October 6, 2026, according to reports
- Police spokesperson: Alice Sitima of Dowa Police
- Church representative: Apostle Joseph Ziba
- Court status: Remanded in custody pending further proceedings
- Current status: Investigation ongoing; no finding of guilt established
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Who is Bishop Medran Chirwa?
Bishop Medran Chirwa is a church leader associated with Fountain of Victory Church in Lilongwe, Malawi. He was arrested in connection with the investigation into the death of Tathokoza Salimu.
Q2. Who was Tathokoza Salimu?
Tathokoza Salimu was a 31-year-old woman who worked for FDH Bank at its Dzaleka branch. She was found dead inside a vehicle at Chinkhota Village in Dowa District on September 21, 2026.
Q3. Why was Bishop Chirwa arrested?
Police reportedly cited preliminary call-record findings indicating that Chirwa and Salimu had been together on the day she died. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the death. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Q4. What has Fountain of Victory Church said about the case?
The church, through its founder Apostle Joseph Ziba, has expressed condolences to Salimu’s family and called for a fair investigation. It disputes reports that Chirwa fled to avoid police and says he was searching for land near Lilongwe at the relevant time.
Q5. Was the bishop found guilty of murder?
No. The reported remand order was a procedural step after the magistrate’s court determined that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the murder case at first instance. It was not a conviction, and the allegations had not been tested in court at that stage.
Q6. Where was Tathokoza Salimu found?
She was found inside a vehicle at Chinkhota Village, near Tatolonga Bridge along the Dzaleka–Dowa Boma Road in Malawi’s Dowa District.
Q7. Are police still investigating the case?
Yes. Reports say police investigations are continuing, including efforts to establish the circumstances of Salimu’s death and identify any other suspects who may be connected to the case.
Q8. What happens next in the case?
The case is expected to proceed through the appropriate court after further investigative and legal steps. The court will assess the evidence presented through the legal process.
Conclusion
The investigation into Tathokoza Salimu’s death remains a serious and developing case in Malawi. Bishop Medran Chirwa has been arrested and remanded in custody, while police continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the former FDH Bank employee.
Fountain of Victory Church has disputed aspects of the public account and presented an alibi for the bishop. Those claims, like the allegations against Chirwa, must be assessed through evidence and the legal process.
The priority remains establishing what happened to Salimu, ensuring a thorough investigation and allowing the courts to determine the case fairly.
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