Angry mob kills forestry officer
A 54-year-old officer from the Regional Forestry Department in the South has died after an angry mob descended on him as the officers were on surveillance of illegal charcoal traders in Lirangwe, Blantyre.
The victim, Foster Sankhulani, hailed from Mulima village, Traditional Authority Kuntanja in Blantyre.
“The officers were conducting patrols and met some resistance that resulted in the beating up of Sankhulani,” Chileka police spokesperson, Grace Mwale, said on the matter.
The police say investigations are underway.
Illegal charcoal trade is rife in most parts of the country and the Department of Forestry usually puts in place snap road blocks and conducts patrols in selected places to curb the malpractice.
This is usually done in conjunction with the police but on this particular day, the officers were by themselves.
“They usually move with the police but it appears that on this particular day they were by themselves and the people might have noticed this and took advantage of it,” said a source.
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