An angry mob in Chikwawa on Wednesday beat to death a suspected criminal who impersonated a police officer.
The slain suspect, a Blantyre resident whose particulars are not yet known, met his fate on Wednesday at Ziwadzina Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Maseya’s area in the district.
Chikwawa Police Station spokesperson Foster Benjamin said his accomplice, identified as Alex Edson of Chidothi Village in T/A Chimaliro’s area in Thyolo, has since been arrested.
“Both the deceased and the suspect are said to have travelled from Blantyre. They broke into a house of Thauzeni Gambuleni, a cattle farmer, after smashing the door using a big stone. Immediately, the gang demanded cash while claiming that they were police officers,” he said.
Benjamin said the suspects started beating up Gambuleni after he told them he did not have money.
“They beat him up, ransacked the house and stole K150 000. However, neighbours woke up after hearing the commotion and acted swiftly, catching one robber and killing him instantly.” he said.
Benjamin said Edson was caught in a sugarcane field by security guards belonging to one of the estates in the area.
The suspect has since been charged with burglary and theft and will appear in court soon.n
