Thyolo Police Spokesperson, Sub-Inspector Amos Tione, identified the man as Davie Mathumura from Chilombo Village in Traditional Authority Chimaliro in the district.

"It is reported that the deceased who has criminal record in the area was caught stealing maize in one of the maize fields and as per his stealing behavior,  the mob took him to Goliati Trading Centre where they assaulted and later burnt him to death," he said.

He said the body was taken to Thyolo District Hospital to establish the cause of death and postmortem revealed that death was due to head injury secondary to burnt wounds.