Mob loots, assaults suspects in Kasungu
By Patience Lunda:
There were running battles between police officers and some irate residents of Nkhamenya, Kasungu District, who were involved in mob justice on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The angry mob attacked two people they suspected were connected to presumed ritual killing of a 17-year-old girl, Victoria Mkosi, and three other people who died in a manner the people thought was mysterious.
Kasungu Police Public Relations Officer, Harry Namwaza, said the mob linked the death of the four people to Joshua Chibwe and Mama Jane; hence, beaten them up severely.
“The mob wanted to deal with Chibwe and Mama Jane [another suspect] who are being accused of killing a girl. We have since contained the situation now,” he said.
Before police officers arrived on the scene, Jane, a popular business lady in the area, was beaten up on Tuesday.
Wednesday, the mob also pounced on Chibwe who was severely battered and was rushed by police to Kasungu District Hospital where he is admitted.
Meanwhile, Mama Janes’s shop and two other buildings in Nkhamenya have been looted and destroyed.
This is the second time police and members of community of Nkhamenya have been involved in running battles over mysterious deaths of people within three months.
In the first incident which occurred in December 2019, Nkhamenya Police Unit was torched and some shops belonging to Malawians and Burundians were looted.
Women activist Jenipher Mkandawire said he was saddened by the continued acts of violence against women in the country despite interventions on the same.
“Women continue being looked down upon in the country even though a lot has been said on the same. Women are like everyone else and just because they are doing well in life does not mean they are indulging in bad ways,” she said.
Meanwhile, Kasungu Police is assessing the damage and some arrests have been made arrested.
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