Police in Chitipa District have launched a manhunt for unknown assailants who are suspected to have murdered Group Village Head (GVH) Mwanyanja of Traditional Authority Nthalire in the district.

Chitipa Police spokesperson, Gladwell Simwaka, said GVH Mwanyanja (real name Mapuzi Kaonga), 65, was found dead along an earthroad within the village on Sunday.

Simwaka said that a post-mortem conducted at Nthalire Health Centre revealed that death was due to severe loss of blood secondary to multiple cuts sustained in the head.

“Reasons behind his killing are not yet known. However, it is believed that people in the area suspected the deceased of being a witch,” Simwaka explained.

He further said that GVH Mwanyanja attended a funeral (where he was accused of being the one who caused the death) in his village a day before being found dead.

Simwaka warned the public against mob justice based on mere witchcraft accusations and added that the law will take its course on anyone involved in the killing.