Thyolo Police is keeping in custody a 67-year-old herbalist over the death of a man whom he gave traditional medicine in a bid to stop him from excessive drinking of alcohol.

Thyolo Police Public Relations Officer Amos Tione identified the suspect as Bitoni Malata and the deceased as Ndaziona Duli aged 36.

According to Tione, the deceased in accompany of his brother Muleke Duli approached the herbalist to seek herbs to stop them from drinking alcohol excessively.

Reports say the two were given traditional medicine but after consuming the herbs, Ndaziona vomited and died afterwards.

Police were called to the scene and they took the body of the deceased to Thyolo District Hospital for a postmortem.

Police also arrested the herbalist who is currently in custody waiting to answer charges of causing death.

He hails from Kautuka village in the area of traditional authority Kwethemule in Thyolo.