Phalombe Police Publicist, Sergeant Innocent Moses, has confirmed the arrest to Zodiak  Online Wednesday,  saying Malinga is suspected to have committed the offence on January 21, 2020 at around 22:00 hours at Thunga Trading Centre in the district.

According to Sergeant Moses, initial investigations have revealed that the deceased was with the suspect at a drinking joint.

Whilst there, the suspect alleged that the late Chimberenga stole his bicycle and disappeared with it.

Sergeant Moses said this prompted Malinga to run after the suspected thief alone, and caught him after some metres from the drinking joint.

It is further alleged that Malinga assaulted the suspected thief on the head using a burglar bar until he became unconscious.

“Upon seeing Chimwemwe's condition, his relatives took him to Kalinde Health Centre where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

“Chimwemwe's death was due to head injuries according to postmortem conducted at the health facility,” he said.

Chimwemwe's death did not please his relatives who eventually took his body.

Police' intervention for proper burial ceremony of the late Chimwemwe proved futile since his relatives had abandoned his body.

Currently, body of the late Chimwemwe is being kept at Mulanje District Hospital mortuary pending proper burial arrangements.

The murder suspect is in police custody pending court trial.

Malinga hails from Thunga Village in the area of Senior Chief Kaduya in Phalombe.

Meanwhile, police in the district is advising people to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.