Police in Mangochi are keeping in custody a 30-year-old man identified as Missi Bwanali for allegedly scalding his wife with hot water due to delays in serving him food.

The incident reportedly took place at the couple’s home in Mpinganjira Village, Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi.

Mangochi Police spokesperson Amina Daudi says on Tuesday evening, the suspect, who is a fisherman, returned home while drunk and found that his wife Nancy Bwanali, 32, had not finished preparing supper

According to Daudi, Bwanali disparaged his wife, accusing her of taking longer to prepare food to the extent that the two picked a quarrel.

In the heat of the argument, the husband took a pot of hot water from the fire and splashed it onto the face of the wife before fleeing.

Neighbors rushed the victim to Mangochi District Hospital where she is receiving treatment after sustaining severe burns.

Daudi says the police went to the suspect’s home and arrested him.