A man, allegedly caught breaking into a shop at Nadokaki, Muriet, Arusha, was burnt to death by an angry mob in the early hours of last Wednesday. Eyewitnesses said that the unidentified man, believed to be from Mbauda in the city, was set ablaze and burnt beyond recognition. The tragic incident occurred after the suspect was apprehended by local residents. The shop owner, Ms Janet Mwangosi, stated that she received a call around 3:00 am from a neighbour alerting her to the break-in. Upon arriving at the scene, she discovered her shop had been looted and the suspect was being severely beaten by area residents. According to Ms Janet, the stolen items included TZS 320,000 in cash, 25 kilogrammes of sugar, a mobile phone and an unspecified amount of alcoholic drinks. Eyewitnesses described the aftermath as grim. Mr James, one of the onlookers, said that police later arrived to collect the charred remains of the suspect. “It was impossible to identify the man, but the police recovered a pouch containing some papers, which might help identify him or his accomplices,” James explained. Bags allegedly brought by the suspects to carry stolen goods were also found at the scene. Another resident, Mr Shabani, lamented the rising incidents of burglary in the area. Efforts to reach Arusha Regional Police Commander (RPC) Justine Masejo for additional details were unsuccessful.
