Man Dies After Being Attacked by Gule Wamkulu in Mangochi Monkey Bay – Police Arrest The Gule

Police in Monkey Bay have arrested a 25-year-old man, Noel Kaponda, suspected of killing 29-year-old Edward Luka in Madzedze Village, under Senior Chief Nankumba in Mangochi District.

According to Monkey Bay Police spokesperson Alice Sichali, the incident occurred on the afternoon of May 22, 2025. Kaponda, who was dressed in a Gule Wamkulu (traditional masked dancer) costume known as Kang’wing’wi, allegedly encountered Luka on his way home and assaulted him by striking him on the head for reasons that remain unclear.

Luka reportedly informed his mother about the attack, prompting her to confront the masked dancer. With the help of villagers, they managed to unmask the suspect, revealing his identity as Kaponda. He was immediately apprehended and handed over to the police, while Luka was taken to Monkey Bay Hospital for medical attention.

Tragically, Luka died on May 25, 2025, while receiving treatment. Postmortem results confirmed that he succumbed to severe head injuries sustained during the assault.

Police have confirmed that Kaponda will soon appear in court to answer a charge of murder.

Source:Dzimwe Community Radio