Angry mob sets court on fire, attack Malawi police officers: Two arrested

An angry mob in the township of Machinjiri on Wednesday burnt down South Lunzu Magistrates Court after mistakenly thought that some of the suspects that were tried at the court were responsible for the death of a businessman who, some weeks ago, was found dead with his face mutilated.

Divala- People should not take the law in their hands Pic Lucky Mkandawire
Divala- People should not take the law in their hands 

Currently, two people have since been arrested in connection to the incident and that two police officers were injured during the fracas in which official vehicles were damaged.

Blantyre police Public Relations Officer, Elizabeth Divala confirmed of the incident but could not divulge more details.

“I don’t have details now. But people should be warned that taking the law in their own hands is a crime. Our officers are currently on the issue; once all is done, I will have full details ready,” said Divala.

But information which Nyasa Times has sourced indicates that the incident happened after an angry mob mistakenly thought that some of the suspects that were brought to court by both Ndirande and Chileka police prosecutors were murder suspects.

Efforts by court authorities to reason with the mob seemed to have only eased the tension until the court sessions were over, when the angry mob at Luwanda trading centre regrouped.

The mob started stoning the court building, believing that the suspects they were after, were hidden in the court building.

The court building was maliciously damaged before it was set on fire.

Two of the police officers who rushed to the scene of the incident to calm the situation, Sergeant Moto of South Lunzu police unit sustained cut on forehead and back head, and Constable Masina of Ndirande police sub-station sustained injuries on the back after being hit with stones.

They were referred to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) for treatment.

Two police vehicles were also damaged during the fracas. The mob damaged a rear windscreen of a Toyota land cruiser registration MP 25 for Blantyre police station and a front windscreen of Toyota land cruiser pick-up registration MP 2347 for Ndirande police sub-station.

Meanwhile, the law-enforcers have arrested Henry Masina, 24, of Area 5 in the township and a 28-year-old Labson Magombo of Area 3 in the same township in connection to the fracas.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
15 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Raphael & Annia ( Adam & Eve )
Raphael & Annia ( Adam & Eve )
8 years ago

From our own exprience, The police from any country around the world are always happy when chasing people and being chased by people. I saw the genesis part of the whole incident up to the revelation part and i can tell everything what happened on this day. It was a lonely day at my work shop wher by i saw a dark cloud moving after the Toyota land cruiser registration Mp 25 of Ndirande Police Unit. The dark cloud could shout, “eeh! eeh! apolisi tikupwetekani! apolisi tikupwetakani!,,, to be continued,,

VUTE MAN
VUTE MAN
8 years ago

FELEW MALAWIANS,IT PAINFUL SOMETIMED BUT,REMAMBER THERE IZ ROLE OF LAW

C Mapila
C Mapila
8 years ago

koma nde afikapo

Hedges
Hedges
8 years ago

So controversial

Damiano Gawani
8 years ago

Ziwanda zinachuluka kwa luanda

Eugene
Eugene
8 years ago

Stupid people aaaaaah mwakhuta kachasu eti

RC
RC
8 years ago

Malawians need a shift of mentality, Protest does not have to be violent. Tomorrow when someone has to be tried in court it will take a while and you will complain yet you burnt down a whole court. Let us not destroy the already few resources that we have in the country. You cannot fight poverty by creating more poverty. You cannot fight crime with criminal behaviour. Burning a police station is not going to stop people from stealing. It will only encourage since the resource meant to counteract it has been destroyed. If we want to develop we need… Read more »

Zachilomwe
Zachilomwe
8 years ago

Ziwanda zachuluka, anaponda ndi mapazi satana ku machinjiri

REX AMFUMU NAOSA
8 years ago

Ngati anawatengera ku khoti sindiye ponyadilapo kuti chilunamo chiwoneke? Umbuli @ its best

Mahope a divala
Mahope a divala
8 years ago

Mahope anga mukuwalatu.

Read previous post:
Ntata analysis on Malawi ruling DPP 2014 -2019

The definitive sentiment underlining the DPP leadership philosophy under  President Peter Mutharika is summarised in the sentiments that I heard...

Close