A man in Lilongwe was set ablaze by an angry mob who mistook him for a thief in Lilongwe Area 36 in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The deceased was identified as Jones Zingomvela, 29 years of age.

Lilongwe Police publicist Kingsley Dandaula confirmed of the death but said there were many versions which arose to the circumstances that led to the torching of the deceased who was a welder by profession.

Dandaula said they were alerted of the incident on Tuesday morning and instantly rushed there but when the Police arrived at the scene they found the person already dead apparently from wounds caused by the fire.

According to some reports from the scene where the incident took place in Area 36, it is alleged that the deceased had gone to ask for his money from a woman when some disagreements ensued leading to the burning of Zingomvela by people who were meant to believe he had gone to rob his debtor.

And the Police say Zingomvela was set ablaze by a mob in the wee hours of Tuesday as he was going home from attending a funeral after being mistaken to be part of gang of thieves who were being chased from a house nearby.

“It is indeed true that Zingomvela was burnt by a mob after he was thought to be a thief and our primary findings indicate that he was on his way home from a funeral when he met his fate. We have launched our full scale investigations as Police to ascertain to what really led the deceased to be dealt with in such a way,” said Dandaula.

The Police are however appealing to the general public to desist from indulging in mob justice and leave the job of administering justice to the courts as they risk taking away innocent lives as they have done with Zingomvela.

“What these people did is unlawful and uncalled for. And once the people behind the death of Zingomvela are caught, they will answer murder charges as they have contravened section 209 of the penal code,” said Dandaula.

So far, the Police have said they have arrested nobody in connection to the killing of Zingomvela.

The remains of the deceased, who was a resident of Area 36, have been taken to his home district in Blantyre in Traditional Authority Machinjiri where he is expected to be laid to rest