Community Volunteer Murdered by Charcoal Burners in Dedza

Police in Dedza are looking for unknown charcoal burners who have killed a community volunteer who was working at Dzalanyama forest.

Dedza police public relations officer, Cassim Manda identified the deceased as Wisdom Samuel.

According to Manda, the deceased and other officers were trained by JICA as community volunteers to protect Dzalanyama forest which is heavily destroyed by charcoal burners.

On the day of the incident, him and fellow officers embarked on a journey to patrol the forest and while there they bumped into the charcoal burners who were more than 15.

After interrogation, a violent clash erupted between these patrol officers and charcoal burners who were armed with pangas and axes.

The officers were overpowered and started retreating from the scene.

However, the charcoal burners ran after them and managed to capture Samuel.

They hit him and cut him beyond recognition and he died on the spot.

The charcoal burners also injured another officer identified as Chiyerekezo Mainala who is currently admitted at Kamuzu central hospital.

Police have since appealed to people to feed them with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects who are believed to be from Lilongwe.