Thyolo, February 18: Officer in Charge for Thyolo Police, Tereza Nakhuni has warned people against taking the law into their own hands by executing mob justice.

Nakhuni was speaking during a sensitization meeting held at Masenjere Police in Thomas village which is one of the hotbeds for mob justices.

Late last month two people were killed for causing havoc in the village and being found stealing tomatoes in Kenneth Cholola’s farm.
Nakhuni said;No one has the right to take someone else’s life but God.

“I want to warn you to desist from taking the law into your own hands.”

She also asked the people to be in the forefront in making sure no one lays hands on a suspect because the law clearly says every person is presumed innocent until found guilty by a competent court of law.

Thyolo Police public relations officer, Edith Kachotsa said mob justice impedes on Police investigations to find accomplices of the criminals.
Kachotsa said Thomas has a growing number of mob justice cases resulting from robberies and other offenses.

Group Village Headman Makhamba attributed the mob justice cases to lack of available transportation at Masenjere Police Unit.

Makhamba asked the OC to provide a vehicle to the site so that criminals can be handed over to the police at the boma to face justice in court.

“The distance from here to the boma is a huge problem and since Masenjere Police Unit does not have a vehicle people resort to mob justice.

“We therefore ask the police to provide us with a vehicle; even if you can release the car you use at the boma to stay here for at least three days otherwise we will stop pursuing these criminals for the safety of our lives,” said Makhamba.

Makhamba added that there are dangerous criminals in the area giving a personal experience where he pursued a criminal who drew out a knife on him but with the help of police officers on patrol helped apprehend the criminal.