A 35-year-old man, Maxwell Weston, was killed by an angry crowd in Mchinji district.
He was accused of stealing five chickens belonging to Charles Gidala, 48.
According to Mchinji police spokesperson Limbani Mpinganjira, Gidala discovered the missing chickens and found Weston with them, leading him to mobilize other community members.
The mob subsequently attacked and killed Weston.
Five suspects, including Gidala, have been arrested in connection with Weston’s murder.