Nkhotakota, January 30: A man identified as Petros Kamanga of Kabua Village in the area of T/A Khosolo in Mzimba has been murdered by a mob after being suspected of a thief.
Nkhunga Police Spokesperson Sub-inspector Laban Makalani said the man is alleged to have trespassed into Kazirila sugarcane field while armed with a panga knife in order to steal tyres of an irrigation pivot.
“The man was confronted by three cane guards belonging to Umodzi Cane Growers Association, one of the sugarcane smallholder grower’s organisations in the area. It is alleged that the man injured the three guards with a knife before freeing into hiding.
“Following the incident, villagers around the area mobilized themselves and started searching for the man until they found him. The villagers assaulted the man to death and later set him ablaze,” he said.
Makalani said the three guards who had confronted the suspect sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Nkhotakota District Hospital where they have been admitted to.
“One of the three guards identified as Limbikani Chinjoka aged 25 who hails from Kalikhola Village in the area of Senior Chief Kanyenda in Nkhotakota was stabbed in the abdomen to the extent that his intestines were exposed.
“His two other colleagues identified as Andrew Chijozi aged 43 and Macdonald Matumbi aged 50 from Kalikhola and Gweula villages respectively were stabbed on various parts of the bodies,” Makalani said.
The police publicist said the villagers are alleging to have seized a knife from the deceased.
He further said police have opened a case of murder under section 309 of the Penal Code against unknown person and are warning members of the general public to desist from taking the law into their hands by punishing or killing suspects of crimes.
“A suspect is supposed to be presumed not guilty until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. The police are therefore advising members of the general public to report or bring suspects of crime in order to allow justice to take its course.
“Therefore, we are condemning the barbaric killing of Kamanga and that is pure murder. Currently, we are investigating the matter,” said Makalani.
