By Burnett Munthali
A 32-year-old man from a village under Senior Chief Mlumbe in Zomba, Timothy Nkombezi, has died while in the custody of a community security group known as ‘Inkata,’ according to family members.
Alice Mkombezi, the sister of the deceased, revealed that the group, which operates in Tawakali village under Senior Chief Chikowi, apprehended Timothy on Tuesday morning on suspicion that he had stolen pears and guavas.
She explained that when the security group caught him carrying the stolen fruits, they decided to take him to his home to confirm whether he had indeed stolen them.
Upon reaching his house, the group found all the fruits he had allegedly taken, but they took him away once again for further questioning.
Alice expressed shock that the next piece of information the family received was a message from the police in the afternoon informing them that Timothy had died.
She stated that the family is now waiting for a post-mortem examination, scheduled for today, to determine the exact cause of his death.
Alice insisted that Timothy had never complained of any health issues before being taken by the group and had no known history of theft.
Meanwhile, Zomba Police spokesperson, Inspector Patricia Sipiliano, has asked for more time before commenting on the matter.
The death of Timothy Nkombezi has sparked concerns over the use of excessive force by community security groups in handling suspected criminals.
Many people have criticized the actions of ‘Inkata,’ arguing that suspects should be handed over to the police instead of being subjected to mob justice.
Human rights organizations have frequently condemned such practices, warning that they violate basic rights and often lead to unlawful killings.
As the police continue their investigations, the family of the deceased and the general public are eager to know whether justice will be served in this case.
