Road dispute ends with house, car in flames
By Patience Lunda:
Some irate citizens of Chiputula Township in Mzuzu City have burnt a house, vehicle and looted property belonging to one of the residents in the area for blocking one of the roads with a brick fence.
Robert Soko, an eye-witness, said the house belonged to an accountant who works for Mzuzu Technical College.
“This road is a shortcut to many places, including Chiputula Primary School, and many people were complaining that they were taking long to get to the other side because the owner of the house built a fence and, after several unfruitful interventions, some people just decided to destroy the fence of the house,” he said
Soko said the victim was warned by residents, including the block leader of the area, to consider fence but he was adamant to react to the calls.
However, after destroying the fence, the mob burnt a car that was outside, looted property and torched the house.
It is reported that members of the family escaped during the fracas and the situation worsened when Malawi Police Service officers tried to control the situation by using teargas canisters.
Mzuzu Police Station spokesperson, Paul Tembo, said investigations were underway to assess the damage and arrest perpetrators of the attack.
“It is true that we received a complaint that some people had stolen property and burnt a house and car belonging to a certain individual in Chiputula residential area. Details of the incident are sketchy but investigations are underway,” he said.
Efforts to speak to the owner of the house proved futile as her whereabouts are unknown.
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