The mystery surrounding the reported disappearance and alleged murder of Mzuzu businesswoman Rita Mkandawire has taken a dramatic twist after police found her alive at a lodge in Ngara, Karonga District.
Mkandawire, 31, and her five-year-old son, who had been reported missing for several days, were traced by detectives from the Northern Region. Her vehicle was also recovered parked outside the lodge.
Before she was found, social media had been flooded with disturbing messages and photographs, including an image purportedly showing Mkandawire lying naked and lifeless, which was widely circulated as evidence that she had been murdered. The posts sparked fear and sympathy across the country, with many believing she had been abducted and killed.
However, her discovery alive has raised serious questions over the authenticity of the claims and prompted widespread belief that her disappearance may have been staged. The incident comes against the backdrop of her legal troubles. In February 2025, Zodiak Online reported that Mkandawire had been arrested for allegedly defrauding a business partner of about K41 million, with the court ordering her to repay the money.
Northern Region Police Public Relations Officer Inspector Cecilia Mfune confirmed that Mkandawire was found at a lodge in Karonga and disclosed that she is also wanted by Mzuzu and Lingadzi police stations in connection with several fraud-related offences, including obtaining money by false pretences.
Mfune said police are continuing investigations to establish the full circumstances surrounding Mkandawire's reported disappearance and the disturbing messages and images that circulated while she was missing.
