A man identified as Yakobe Mpwesiwa (45) has died after he poured petrol over his body and set himself on fire.

Public Relations Officer for South East Region Police Inspector Rodrick Maida has confirmed the development saying the incident happened on Friday, December 10, 2021, around 8 pm at Namagonya Village in Traditional Authority Kapichi in Thyolo.

The wife to the deceased, Lucy Yakobe, told police that her husband was behaving as if he had mental health issues. He often snuck out to an unknown destination where he would spend some days before returning.

On December 9, 2021, Yakobe sneaked out to an unknown destination, prompting the wife to search for her him the whole night but to no avail.

On December 10, 2021, in the morning hours, Luchenza Police Station was tipped that an unknown man had torched himself at Namagonya Village.

Officers rushed to the scene and managed to take the victim to Thyolo District Hospital where he was admitted.

Yakobe died yesterday while receiving treatment at Thyolo District Hospital.

An autopsy conducted at Thyolo District Hospital showed that death was due to second-degree burns.

Yakobe comes from Ngamwani Village in Traditional Authority Kapichi in Thyolo.