Malawians fume….Demand arrest of dog owner after security guard mauled to death

Anger is growing across Malawi, with citizens on social media demanding the arrest of a dog owner following the death of a security guard who was allegedly mauled by German Shepherd dogs in Old Naisi, Zomba.

The deceased has been identified as 41-year-old Clement Lihuta, a security guard employed by Chalo Security Services.

He was assigned to guard a residence belonging to John Kauta, who owns the dogs involved in the incident.

According to Zomba Police Deputy Spokesperson Andrew Mwale, the incident occurred during the night of May 4 to 5, 2026.

Mwale said that at around 20:15 hours, the homeowner reportedly heard the guard screaming outside. When he checked, Lihuta allegedly said he was being attacked by dogs and was advised to take shelter in the guard room.

The owner reportedly attempted to contact the security company to request a replacement guard, suspecting that Lihuta might have been intoxicated, but was unable to reach them.

Police say the situation escalated later in the night, with screams continuing at around 22:00 hours.

Another attempt to reach the security company also failed.

It was only around 06:00 hours the following morning, when a replacement guard arrived for duty, that Lihuta was found lying dead in a pool of blood.

The incident has since sparked widespread outrage online, with many Malawians questioning the response time and demanding accountability from both the dog owner and those responsible for the security arrangement.

Social media users are calling for the arrest of the dog owner and a full investigation into how the fatal attack was handled, arguing that the guard’s life could potentially have been saved with quicker intervention.

Police say investigations into the matter are ongoing.