Students set businessman’s house on fire over alleged kidnapping
Students of Mawira Private Secondary School in Liwonde Township in Machinga Monday night smashed and burnt down a house of businessman Victor Mtuwa allegedly for kidnapping a female student.
In an interview with on Wednesday, Police in Machinga confirmed the development adding the students and some Liwonde residents stoned the police who responded to the disorder.
Machinga Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), constable Davie Sulumba said the students burnt Mtuwa’s house in the low density housing area of Mawira where they smashed and looted assorted household items on Monday night before setting the house on fire.
It is reported that the students went on rampage after it was alleged that a fellow student, Faith Kasiya, 21 went missing since March 7,2017.
The students suspected that Faith and other girls were kidnapped and were being kept by Mtuwa at a basement in his house.
However, no basement or anything similar to that was seen in the house when Mana toured the house.
Two Police Officers sustained head injuries with another three sustaining leg injuries during the fracas.
The five Police Officers were treated as out-patients, according to Sulumba who added that police from Zomba came in to beef up the law enforcement.
Business came to a standstill in the market area of Liwonde Township from around One o’clock in the afternoon Tuesday till evening.
Police have since arrested two people for burning Mtuwa’s house, three people for conduct likely to cause breach of peace and 25 people for inciting violence.
Currently, Mtuwa has lodged a complaint against the students for burning his house at Mawira.
Rumours are still circulating in Liwonde and on social media that Mtuwa kidnapped Faith and two other girls and kept them in a basement in his house.
Faith comes from Mpota Village, Traditional authority Zulu in Mchinji while Mtuwa comes from Mkumba Village, Traditional Authority Bwana Nyambi in Mangochi.
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