The villagers gruesomely beat him to death and set his body on fire. It
was unattended for the whole day before police came to collect it.
Northern Region Police Spokesperson Nora Chimwala could not answer her
phone when contacted but a police source at Chintheche confirmed
arresting around 20 people connected to the murder.
We have arrested about 20 people but more arrests are pending because
almost the entire village was involved in the case, said the source
who declined to be identified.
Reports reaching us say the villagers killed acting village headman
Msundu, real name Mkwakwata Chirwa, for being suspected of teaching
children in the village witchcraft.
The rumor of his involvement in witchcraft began in January this year
after a woman in the village fell sick in a bizarre manner and decided
to seek help from witch doctors where she was told about the headman. Â
The village head is said to have confessed practicing and teaching
children witchcraft and he was immediately sent packing out of his own
village.   Â
He reportedly went into hiding for some days but some villagers
spotted him on Monday… He was caught and they started beaten him
repeatedly until he died. The assailants then set his body on fire and
left it there, said the police source.
The acting village headman Msundu was 44 years and came from the area
of Traditional Authority Malanda in the district. His remains were laid
to rest on Wednesday.