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Police Investigates Sayama Tea Estate Fracas

Police quelled the situation Police quelled the situation - pic by Hastings Jimani

In a dramatic turn of events, police in Mulanje have disclosed that there are strong allegations that the death of a man which triggered fracas on Saturday at Sayama Tea Estate Company in Mulanje was as a result of severe beating by the company’s guards.

Mulanje Police Spokesperson Sub-Inspector Gresham Ngwira says it is alleged that the man, Dinala Chiponde, 46, together with his friends were found stealing blue gum trees in the company’s forest on 29th August, 2021.

“There are allegations that when the guards caught Chiponde, they assaulted him severely before taking him to police and upon seeing that he was beaten severely, the police officers took him to Mulanje district hospital where he died on Saturday, 4th September, 2021,” said Ngwira.

According to Ngwira, postmortem conducted at the health facility has attributed the death to severe head injuries.

“When news of Chiponde’s death reached Mikundi village where Chiponde was coming from, angry mob went on rampage destroying the company property and stole fertilizer from the warehouse.

The people also set ablaze some green tea and Bluegum trees,” said Ngwira.

Ngwira said police rushed to the company which is a subsidiary of Lujeri Tea Estate Company and managed to quell the situation and in the process, they arrested 11 people.

He said they have been charged with arson, malicious damage and theft.

Asked on what will happen to the guards suspected to have assaulted the man, Ngwira’s brief response was “let us wait for investigations.”

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Last modified on Sunday, 05/09/2021

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