Police in Chilobwe have apprehended a shebeen owner known as “Mthamo” on suspicion of setting ablaze a 30-year-old man identified as Semu Chopi.
According to the victim’s sister, Esme Chopi Chikoja, the incident occurred at Mthamo’s beer-drinking joint after Chopi purportedly pilfered two packets of roasted groundnuts.
Chikoja claimed that Mthamo, in a fit of rage, poured a fire-catching substance on the victim and lit it using a cigarette lighter to burn Chopi.
According to witnesses, the victim was taken to Zingwangwa Health Centre and subsequently referred to Queen’s Elizabeth Central Hospital due to severe burns he sustained covering a significant portion of his body.
Currently, Mthamo is being held in custody at Chichiri Prison, awaiting a court hearing scheduled for 23 February 2024.
