Blantyre, Malawi - Business came to a standstill in Malawi's eastern city of Zomba on Tuesday when a group of irate by-standers descended on a Chinese businessman who assaulted a woman suspected of shop-lifting. Zomaba police spokesman Thomeck Nyaude told PANA that a woman entered the unnamed Chinese businessman's shop and hid a pair of shoes and a handbag in her bag. 'The owner saw her on security cameras and alerted his guards,' he said.

Nyaude said the woman attempted to flee the scene but the guards caught her and handed her over to the shop owner.

'The Chinese businessman beat her up to the extent of injuring her and this did not please onlookers who descended on the shop and started beating up the shop owner,' he said.

Nyaude said some people looted the shop and destroyed items things. Police were alerted.

'We arrested six people, including the shop lifter and her husband, who happens to work in the shop,' he said. 'We believe the husband helped her to steal the items.'

Nyaude said the Chinese businessman, who was not arrested, will be charged with assault and causing malicious bodily harm.

'He took the law into his own hands,' he said.

A lot of Chinese small- and medium-scale investors have been flocking into Malawi after the government of President Bingu wa Mutharika established diplomatic relations with mainland China in 2008 after severing 30-year ties with the Republic of China on Taiwan.

Some economic analysts say the influx of the Chinese, most of whom are in retail businesses, will affect Malawian businesses because they are flooding the market with cheap goods from China.

Pana 03/02/2011