Mzimba Police on Manhunt for Suspects in String of Murders

Malawi-Mzimba Police are searching for suspects in a series of murder cases that have occurred in the past two weeks, writes Tionge Hara.

According to Mzimba Police Spokesperson Sub-Inspector Peter Botha, the most recent incident was the gruesome murder of William Gausi, 41, allegedly by his brother Lameck Gausi, 23, at Lufeyo Mhone Village in the District.

The brothers went beer-drinking on Friday, March 17, 2023, but Lameck returned alone.

A search for William began after two days of him being missing, and on Sunday morning, March 19, 2023, he was found lifeless in the bush, about a kilometre from his village.

His head was cut off, one eye was removed, and a piece of wood suspected of having been used to beat him was found near his body.

Mzimba Police and medical personnel from Mzimba District Hospital conducted a post-mortem, which revealed that William died due to head injuries secondary to the assault and loss of blood from being beheaded.

Lameck Gausi, the suspect, is still at large.

Police are also searching for the assailants who murdered Oscar Chiumia, 68, on Saturday, March 11, 2023, and Symon Mvula, 41, who was killed on Monday, March 13, 2023, in Traditional Authority Chindi in Euthini in the district.

Chiumia went for beer drinking at Mtende Trading Centre but did not report back home until the following day.

His wife reported the matter to relatives, and a search was conducted. Chiumia was found lying lifeless in the bush between Mtende Trading Centre and Sinoya Chiumia Village in a pool of blood.

A post-mortem conducted at Euthini Health Center revealed that the cause of death was due to head injuries secondary to assault. Investigations are still underway to identify the criminals behind the murder.

Symon Mvula also went missing, only to be found dead on the third day of the search. Symon and his brother went to Nthengwe Trading Center for beer drinking on Monday, March 13, 2023, at around 8:00 a.m.

At around 8:00 p.m., Mvula was drunk and left his brother for an unknown destination but did not reach home.

The following day, relatives started to search for him until Thursday, March 16, 2023, when Mvula was found lying dead in Nzuwula near Nthengwe Trading Center.

A post-mortem conducted at Euthini Health Center revealed that Mvula's death was due to head injuries secondary to assault.

William Gausi hailed from Lazaro Gausi Village in Traditional Authority Mzikubola, while Oscar Chiumia hailed from Chiumia Village, and Symon Mvula hailed from Chiganga Village in Traditional Authority Chindi, all in Mzimba District.