Mob kills Kabaza man in a case of mistaken identity

November 16, 2014 Alfred Chauwa –Nyasa Times 99 Comments

A yet to be identified bicycle taxi man –Kabaza – was set ablaze and killed when a lynch mob mistook his for a thieve in the Capital City Lilongwe Saturday night.

Innocent Kabaza man killed in mob "justice": Just another face of crime: it is lawless, violent, cruel, and arbitrary.
Innocent Kabaza man killed in mob “justice”: Just another face of crime: it is lawless, violent, cruel, and arbitrary.

Onlookers who were found at the scene told Nyasa Times that the Kabaza man was cruising to his bicycle rank at Gologota after dropping a passenger near the famous Kafita Church.

Seeing how he was cruising, some people blocked him and shouted that there is a thief who is believed to have stolen a bicycle.

“The man explained that he is coming from dropping a customer but that did not yield anything,” said an eye witness.

She added:”People mistakenly identified him as someone who wanted to steal an electric metre from a certain house but he that was another person.”

A crowd had no sooner begun to throw blows at the poor fellow and set him on fire.

Malawi has become synonymous with vigilante justice due to rise in crime, weak justice system and irresponsive Malawi Police Service.

Police spokesman for Lilongwe said the case is a serious indictment of mob justice.

He said such jungle justice simply gives sadists a feed day and that “it shouldn’t be condoned.”

But others argued that though mob justice is not correct or fair, it is effective and efficient.

“People take the law into their hands because the justice system has failed them. When you take a thief to the police station, you hardly reach your house again before the thief is set free by the police who have collected a fee from him,” noted one resident of Lilongwe.

He said most people have resorted to mob justice because they are frustrated.

“This has reduced crime a bit. Although mistaken identity may result in the death of someone innocent, most of the time the mob is right and this is actually yielding fruits,” he added.

He said mob justice is simply the easiest and fastest way of choosing jurors to serve justice.

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99 replies on “Mob kills Kabaza man in a case of mistaken identity”

  3. apa palibepo zangozi,balengozi sapindila chati enumunakozeka ndichifukwa munayamba ndewu mphaka kumupha chiweluz chiyende molondola,pena abale tikayambana kumaugwila ntima osangoyamba ndewu2 simanga mudzi

  4. It’s indeed very sad story.people who participated in the killing of that may die as it is said in genesis that no one shall kill human being as he’s made in the likeness to God and that who kill human wil be punished by death.

  5. Remove Mr Loti Dzonzi from the position of IG and replace him with a man with strong character like that of Peter Mukhito,, believe me this man has failed his job and Malawians.Osati kumangolankhula mbwerera pa radio with no action seen on the ground.

  6. Am sory. May his soul rest in peace as I speak v anger of God upon all v participants in v murder. Why treating creation in vs maner. May God act on them.

    However lets all get set for v coming of the Lord as indications of his coming r now enough. Lets admit w r sinners Rom 3v23. Believe Jesus died for us John 3v16 and commit our lives to him John 1v12 so vat w have a place in v house he has prepared. I just asume that the house is almost over and vat he is just prepared a report of the work done and v expenditure if at all. After taking a barth he might be coming. AMEN.

  7. wina aliyense amene anamenya munthuyu….wapha…..pali ena amadzitenga madolo pa gulu…God hates the killing of innocent ppo…… whether it was done mistakenly or not the word of God in the bible will never change…

  8. are we becoming a lawless country. this is too bad. tighten up security the state security apparatus

  13. This kind of behavior will certainly taint the image of Malawi and will cost the country the much needed foreign investment. It will also put Malawi on the same pedestal as South Africa risking being called a lawless society. This should be stopped immediately and the police should move and arrest the culprits. Its not good to hide behind stopping thieves, who is going to bring this man back to life? and how is he going to be compensated? Its a shame on Malawi!

  14. Z ds happening in d same malawi so called warm heart of africa, peace envoloped country .now where z peace, Justice, freedom of expression, where z ds coming 4m? and where r we going? I av many questions without answers

  16. This is very sad indeed. By the way, who claimed to have owned the bicycle or who took it after the man was murdered? who claimed to have his/her bicycle stolen from the area? or did someone sounded an alarm that his/her bicycle was stolen? if the answer is NO then why did they rush to torch the man despite his personal testimony about where he was coming from? Why was he not taken to his customer whom he dropped at his/her house to prove his innocence or taken to his fellow Kabaza to see if they will recognize the man as one of the bicycle taxi traders?……on what cause was this man mercilessly murdered between the stealing the bicycle or attempting to tel electric meter? Why was there all sorts of accusations. Kulakwa, this man was murdered for no reason at all. Are the people at this area don’t know about kabaza that it was strange to see a man saying he was a kabaza trader?

    The man was doing his business for his family day to day living. That’s why when they shouted, he was at peace for he was not a thief. He also stopped which a thief could rarely do, this still proves that he was innocent. All those who took part in stoning and torching this innocent man are guilty before God and they will answer this account if they do not ask for forgiveness. Jesus is coming soon.

    I suppose that the ones who cried that this man is the thief are thieves themselves, the ones who tried to steal the meter. They did so to hide themselves while betraying innocent life. Perhaps they are the ones who were shouting on top of their voices and quickly throwing stones at the man. Police should net these people to face the law. The ones who heaped charges of attempting to steal meter should also be apprehended for wrongly accusing and causing death of innocent man. All these people should at all cost face the law.

  19. Mwapha wosalakwa ndiye mumutani,mumuzutsa akhale ndi moyo? Chamba chokhachokha basi chonsecho mbava ndinu nomwe. The mob killers must face the arm of law

  22. Our Police, please stop this senseless killing of innocent people. The murders of this man must be identified and brought to the book. Malawi used to be heaven on earth.

  25. Malawians, Lets Not Take Law In Our Hands, Look U Have Killed Innocent Man, What Have U Done? Take Note His Wife, Children, Parrents And Other Relatives Were Dipending On Him. This Is A Very Bad Development. Law Inforcers Help Us Please, U Instead Of Securing The Country U R Bizzy Obtaining Money And Other Things By False Pretence. Anthu Pena Pake Akumaona Ndi Momwe Mukuchitira. Move Around And Catch Anthu Osokonezawa. Bvuto Lake Anthu Akaba Mumakakumana Ndikugawana Zomwe Abazo. Muthandiza Bwanji Dziko Lanu Working Like This? Am So Much Touched With This And Ur Working Perfomance

  27. Akufuna kundiuza kuti tisamayende mofulumila kuopa kuwotchedwa? aaa apa nde zafikanso pena. nde njinga yake yanka kuti? kodi bwanji nyumba ya senzani pa area 6 siikuwotchedwa? ndi ena ma cash gaters bwanji sakuotchedwayi?

  28. Zonsezi ndi Police yathu ziphuphu basi. I was dissapointed yesterday pa Airport just because munthu wapanga check in Malawi Gin, kupanga request for money kuti katungu adutse. These are things which make people to loose trust on our Police men

    1. But one could also buy the Gin in the duty free shops and ‘legally’ carry into the plane without any fuss!

  30. Why are you Sorry and Sad???? You chose to put this country in the hands of thugs, murderers and thieves!!!! Almost everything is getting out of control and the worse is yet to come.No regrets, Wakuba and Matchona yomweyo syndrome!!Usova!!

  33. ” THE MAN WHO PASSES THE SENTENCE SHOULD SWING THE SWORD, IF YOU WOULD TAKE A MAN’S LIFE, YOU OWE IT TO HIM TO LOOK INTO HIS EYES AND HEAR HIS FINAL WORDS. AND IF YOU CANNOT BEAR TO DO THAT, THEN PERHAPS THE MAN DOES NOT DESERVE TO DIE”- GEORGE R.R MARTIN

  34. Simunachite bwinotu pamenepo inu mungangopha munthu osalakwa mulapetu chifukwa kumwamba mukaipeza nkhani imeneyo.

  36. DZODZI, from Chitipa to Nsanje,who is serving a sentence for Mob justice? So many have been caught a live committing crime through mob justice but none is in prison.Government should pay for this lost life.

  41. God should have mercy on all those people who took part in murdering of this innocent but hard working poor young man. This why the bible reminds us not to judge because we do not have the capacity to do so. Leave judgement to the Lord who knows everything about us.

  42. tsamba likagwa manyazi amagwira mtengo. siizi mwaziona a prof mtharika,pangani zotheka kuti chlungamo chioneke,failing whch, indicates “leadershp failure” a police katangale siizi tikuphana anthufe! God help!!!!!

  43. ichi ndiye chibwana zedi cha nchombo lende munthu wina aliyense yemwe watengapo mbali pa imfa iyi akuyenera amangidwe pa mulandu okupha ,kodi anthu opusa inu mukuona ngati moyo wamunthu ndi wa nkhuku eti .choti muziwe ndichoti mwalakwa munthuyu anali ndibanja komaso abale omwe amadalira iyeyu kodi mukuganiza atani? ziwani kuti kumwambaku kuli mulungu inu amene simunachimwepo ziweluzani koma tsiku lizafika ndamvananu chisoni a malawi

  45. @ 43, u hav a point. Why shud we kill somebedy who has stolen something worthy 10,000 and let some1 who stole millions and is responsible 4 many deaths in hospitals walk free? Let’s hunt and burn them too if Mob justice is to be justified and be called fair.

  46. Kumuphelanji m’phawi ngati ameneyu abale anga. Muziyamba mwafufuza musanapange machimo ngati amenewa. Sindikuti umbava kulibe ai, koma zandimvetsa chisoni. REST IN PEACE.

  47. Please,why exposing the naked body like that. Malawians let us try to be professionals with our cameras. Cover the body and then take the photo for the public. You can be sued in other countries!!!!

  50. Malawi kuti adzakhale ziko lokoma kukhalamo, ofunika kukonza kaye police yathu. A police agwira bwanji ntchito alibe zowayenereza kugwirila ntchito? Munthu agwira bwanji ntchito ali ndi njala popeza salary imene mukumupasa simukwanira kupeza zosowa

  51. Ife tinavutika kukagwira wakuba ku Mchezi kubwela naye ku Kawale police. M’mene timabwela mawa lake tinapeza amutulutsa, ndisame zinandiwawa.

  52. Why are we not conducting mob justice on Cash gate thieves? We have the list and these people are walking our streets. There will be no tears shade if we start now. I urge all those interested in carrying out vigilante justice to contact me and we will pursue all the swindles by any means necessary. I am sure DPP would love to see the list of those accused of this hideous crime shorten.

  53. mavuto onsewa ndiiniyo apolice ziphuphu ndi kusadalilika kwa mabwalo amilandu.lelo ndiizi anthu ayamba kumangophana. ndipo sasiya mpakana zitasintha.pepani ofeledwa,zonsezi ndiboma chibwana, kulekelela

  54. Mwapha munthu amene sanapalamule konse, sanakuchimwireni kanthu. Mukuganiza Chauta sakukuonani? Mlengi wanu anakuuzani chiyani za malamulo ake? Inutu muweruzidwa. AMalawi osamapanga zapagulu chifukwa chongotengeka. Remember, aliyense will face God pachimpando chake chachiweruzo payekhapayekha! OSAWERUZA ANZANU!!!

  55. iam totally placid and entirely tongue tied. how could this be? z very melancholic to see innocent persons sacrificed for the devilish impostors. akanakhala kuti a cash gate amalangidwa motere bwenzi m`boma ndalama zisakubedwa. how hilarious and pity t z death sentence for mistaken identity and 3 years for stealing millions of kwachas! t`z a shame indeed

  57. sad indeed,people have stolen millions they are enjoying driving poch cars an innocent man been killed like that,he had a family amathandizidwa,police tisanve kuti tikufuza tiuzeni kutiwagwila the sd face the law

  59. MG yalephera now lets show them how we do it in dealing with these thieves.Our useless justice system is inefficient so let malawian judge for themselves.Inu afwipi (police) munagulitsa dziko ndi zammanja now see pamene anthu afika chifukwa chofuna chilunfamo.

  62. Justice is the loser where the rule of law fails. This is justice denied, and those stained with the blood of this innocent man are themselves guilty of murder. I cautioned in a similar case that it was only a matter of time before an innocent brother, sister, mother, daughter, father, friend and citizen succumbs to mistaken identity by mob justice. R.I.P

  63. That is the ugly side of jungle justice and really those involved in the mob should be taken to task. But the police have really failed us Malawians. Where is the minister of home affairs? What does he reports to his bwana? Does he reports at all? Or what does the president do after getting such reports?

  64. Fellow Malawians it is sad to see that we are smiling at those have stollen billions of our tax money and burning to death some innocent Kabaza man trying to earn a genuine living. Even if it was the meter they are talking about , does it match the billions that could have assisted in buying equipment for the police to be more effective. Don’t forget that we all pay tax one way or the other. I feel sad for the innocent who have received jungle justice.

  65. Is that it? End of story. Is any of ever prosecuted in these cases? Malawi is a dangerous country! As I’ve written before, people are saying that they will not visit. This could happen to anyone!

  67. Wa cashgate who stole millions akuti 3yrs and woba nkhuku 10yrs kkkkkk malawi justice. If this taxman was indeed mistaken identity then may his soul rest in peace koma vuto ndi boma bcoz security has been compromised. Just last friday my friend was robbed in his house. Guys this is what we wanted and people going for mob justice is not wrong. Malawi woyeeeee

  68. If the killed person had demons they get out & enters you the killer & you become more worse than the killed one this is how bad mob justice is. A real christian no matter the pain cant do mob justice, sensible man cant do that. My fellow Malawians no matter what dont shade blood, God is the right judge. Of coz it is painful but be reminded Jesus is coming soon at an hr we dont know. God have mercy upon as a nation.

  70. Because of the sanctity of life,let me assure all those who had a hand in this malpractice that God is going to deal with them now and the here after.

  72. Killing is bad. A thief or not, killing is bad. Tell me, why is mob justice only metted on thieves when we have rapists around?

    It is true that people are frustrated with service delivery system in the country. Corruption has been instructionalized in most (if not all) institutions. People who are trusted with responsibility to dispense good services are failing us. The gap between rhetoric and action gets wider by the day. Mob justice, in my view is a very bad way people empty their anger/frustration.

    If mob justice was the right way to handle anger/frustration, then ESCOM would have been a victim by now. ESCOM collects money from people and make them wait forever before a service is delivered. Very frustrating! Despite all the anger and frustration, we don’t go to set the CEO ablaze because we are ethical people, we know the difference between right and wrong.

    Back to the issue at hand, tingopempha ma bungwe oyenelera kapena boma kuti agalamuke ayambe kugwira ntchito. Asamachite dala zokwiyitsa anthu.

  73. Let his inocent kabaza’s soul rest in peace,koma amalawi tiyeni tiyambe tafufuza kaye,nanu a dpp munangonama za chitetezo

  77. This iz pure irresponsible. How can u kil an innocent man just like dat & instead of blaming de killers u push it to de police! De Police has problem but ur laws & de so called human rights activists. U arrest a suspect 2dy a human right officer comes & bail him out bullsheet. Ask if u don’t know wat happens. Wake up Malawi stamp out ur wrong perception towards ur MPS.

  79. Why did people accuse JB of compromising security in Malawi, and why did they believe DPP would do security issues better than JB? Look now, this country is in shambles. There is no security. There is no money in people’s pockets. There is no forex. Shortly there will be no fuel. Punitive tax is everywhere. There is rising inflation. Commodity prices are rising everyday. There is no unity or harmony between tribes and regions. There is no justice in courts – cashgaters and thugs are being freed. Is this what Malawi wanted? If so Malawi is finished, and DPP is supervising the end of a country that was poised to grow economically under JB.

  81. The reason I hate mob justice. I want those who support it to imagine if this happens to you or to your brother or to your dad. Mob justice is injustice and police must even bring justice to those who brings mob justice. The police must assure us of security and justice when we are robbed. It is unfair to release a thief on bail whom you have all the evidence that he is a thief.

  82. It is sad to lose am innocent life, but I am an advocate of mob just, being a victim of a cruel robbery myself. Thieves and robbers are a selfish and cold-hearted lot. I wouldn’t want to go through the hassle of providing evidence in a robbery case in a court of law when I know that my goods and money are not going to be recovered anyway.

  84. Malawi is becoming a lawless society,people dont trust police and malawi courts,its a cleary indication of a failing state,nothing seems to work,economy is crumbling,courts crosed,insecurity yet the president is mute..SHAME!!may his soul rest in peace..

  85. Very bad indeed. This is what the govt of today wants. Corrupt practices won’t help, the end result is losing poor innocent people. Is this poverty reduction? MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE!!

  88. I think the state condon the mob justice coz I hv never ever heard that someone has arrested or senteced coz of that. Petala akabanso mupite naye ku kugologota mwamva? Namathanga Senzani oba ma million (cashgate), nayenso apite konko

  89. I think the state condon the mob justice coz I hv never ever heard that someone has arrested or senteced coz of that. Petala akabanso mupite naye kugologota mwamva? Namathanga Senzani oba ma million (cashgate), nayenso apite konko

  91. If its true that he was mistaken for a thief, may his soul rest in peace!! But if he was a real thief, then I’ve no mercy for him because it pains to loose either goods or life at the hands of thugs!!!

    1. Iweyo unavotera DPP? chitsiru iwe. Why do you alwayz talk ill of DPP. Mwinanso ndiwe mtumbuka. Atumbuka bwanji kodi? Chilichonse kumangochiona in a negative way.

  93. It is indeed effective. There is no tax payers money wasted in taking the thieves to courts or prison. Megistrates time is spared for other cases. Let’s continue with it when we catch them red handed. However, let’s avoid what happened in this case.

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