A man aged between 33 and 40 who murdered a 55-year-old man in Katete has been apprehended.

Simon Phiri believed to be mentally challenged was apprehended at Chadula Village in Mbangombe Chiefdom about 5 kilometres away from the scene of crime.

The perpetrator was identified by villagers during a pursuit.

Phiri is however at St Francis Mission Hospital where he has been admitted for the head and General body pains after been attacked by a mob of people during his apprehension.

Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba confirmed that his condition was currently critical.

The 55-year-old man from Katete District in Eastern Province was reportedly murdered yesterday, 9th January 2026, by a man believed to be mentally challenged.

The deceased was murdered at his house at Chasauka Village in Mbangombe Chiefdom in Katete, in the early hours of February 9, 2026, at around 02:00hours.

This was confirmed to the media by Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba.

Information surrounding the matter is that yesterday, at around 02:00 hours, the young brother to the deceased heard some noise outside his house prompting him to go out to check.

? After lighting a torch, Mulongoti Banda, 53, saw a man who seemed to be mentally disturbed wearing a short and without shoes, saying audible things. The said man was heading in another direction,? he said.

Banda then went to wake his younger brother, and together they began searching for the person, who was later found at their elder brother’s place.

?He was spotted about 10 metres away from their elder brother who was lying lifeless. The two brothers saw their brother in a pool of blood as the unidentified man was sitted about 10 meters away, with stones around him, threatening to kill anyone who would approach him,? he noted.

Mr Mweemba said villagers were alerted and a crowd began to gather, but the suspect initially fled. He was later caught by an angry mob, who beat him as they apprehended him.

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