A 61-year-old woman from Mankhungwe Village in Petauke District has been found dead following threats made by her younger brother to kill her.
The threats stemmed from a heated argument over a family ox, which the brother had taken from the deceased’s kraal.
The deceased, Loveness Mwale, 61, was discovered with a broken hand and leg, and deep cuts on the chin and thigh.
Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba said the suspected murder is believed to have occurred between December 17, 2025, and yesterday, December 18.
The Police Chief said the alleged murder comes about five days after the siblings quarreled and issued threats.
The matter was reported to Petauke Police Station yesterday, Thursday, December 18, at 07:30 hours.
“Brief facts of the matter are that on 12th December, 2025 at around 21:00hrs Female Loveness Mwale aged 61years now deceased, was threatened to be killed by his brother Male Charles Mwale, aged 42yrs of Kalima Village,Chief Mwanjawantu, Petauke District when the two argued over the family Ox which Mwale got from the deceased kraal but later the animal returned back to the deceased’s Kraal,” he said.
Mr Mweemba said on Wednesday, December 17, at around 16:00hrs, the deceased left her house and went to the maize field to check on the crops and never returned.
“This prompted the daughters and grandsons to follow her but the search was in vain,” he said.
Mr Mweemba stated that   the search continued following day on Thursday when she was found dead, lying near the road next to her maize field.
“Physical check was conducted and the body had deep cuts on the chin and leg thigh. She also had a broken left hand and left leg,” he said.
The body has been deposited to Kalindawalo General Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem, while investigations have been instituted on the case.
Arrests? Reporting is incomplete