Thyolo police spokesperson Amos Tione said while the alleged beating happened on Saturday, they are yet to establish the cause of death as they are waiting for postmortem results.

However, brother to the deceased, Mphatso Matchowa told Zodiak Online on Monday that his brother was only hired to ferry the tree logs suspected to be from the estate when the guards allegedly caught and severely beat him.

Matchowa said before the death, his brother narrated that the guards hacked him in the head and hit him with a stone on the stomach before he was rushed to Thyolo district hospital where he died.

Meanwhile, Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa has given the Thyolo District Commissioner and police 48 hours to act on the matter.

"Now without condoning the breaking of the law, we are giving 48 hours the Thyolo Police Officer in-Charge and the District Commissioner so much that they should ensure the culprits that have beaten this driver to death should face the long arm of the law. As a way forward, we are waiting for the report from the police and the District Commissioner.

"But we are warning the estates that they should not provoke the situation," Namiwa warned.

The incident also comes barely days after police held a series of sensitization engagements with the estates security guards on the same.

The deceased Owen Matchowa hailed from Zungu Village in the area of Inkosi Bvumbwe in the district.