By Rahim Abdul
Tragedy struck Dedza on Monday when a police officer, Mphatso Namwada, lost his life after being attacked by an angry mob in Chufikani Village during a security operation.
According to Dedza Police Public Relations Officer Beatrice Jafta, Namwada was part of a team of officers responding to a tip-off that a man, Fanuel Chadaime had been captured by suspected criminals. The officers rushed to the scene with the aim of rescuing him.
However, upon arrival chaos erupted as some villagers turned hostile towards the police. In the confusion, Namwada was severely assaulted and his service rifle was forcibly taken by the mob.
“It is heartbreaking that our colleague was brutally attacked while on duty, trying to protect someone’s life. This is a huge loss to the Malawi Police Service,” said Jafta.
Namwada was quickly rushed to Dedza District Hospital but he was pronounced dead upon arrival due to the severe injuries he sustained.
Jafta further condemned the incident, describing it as “barbaric and unacceptable”, and warned that the police will leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The police spokesperson also urged communities to work with law enforcement agencies instead of taking matters into their own hands.
“Mob justice does not solve problems. It only leads to more pain and loss of life. We call on the public to report crimes through the right channels,” she added.
Meanwhile, police have launched a manhunt for the individuals involved in the killing and the theft of the firearm.
Namwada’s death has sparked fear among officers and community members with some residents expressing concern over the growing tensions between law enforcement and villagers in the area.
