POLICE and hospital authorities at Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH) are trying to arrest a suspect who swapped two babies at the hospital facility.

This is after a DNA test was conducted on the two babies that were allegedly swapped between January 13 and 14th this year.

Earlier between January 13th and 14, two mother’s were in a dilemma after there was a suspected baby swapping.

A complaint was made by Danny Kiprios 35 saying his son weighing 4.4Kg at birth was swapped with another baby weighing 3.5kg.

Copperbelt police commanding officer Peacewell Mweemba following a suspected Child Swapping, results have indicated that the babies were swapped.

“Investigations were instituted and samples were collected from the two mothers and from the two babies and they were sent to police service headquarters Forensic department for DNA analysis. A follow up report on the matter is such that the DNA results have been received from Lusaka and they are indicating that the babies were indeed swapped. They are indicating that the bigger baby who weighed 4.4kg truely belonged to the Majory wapamesa kaprios (the complainants).

The other smaller baby who weighed 3.5kg belongs to Violet Mulenga Mulenga, contrary to her claim that her baby was the bigger one,” he said.

He said this is in accordance to the DNA report as analysed by the Forensic Department.

“The dispute of identifying the two babies to their biological mothers has been settled by the results ,but what is remaining is finding out the suspect who swapped the bands on the hands of the two infants so as to create a confusion. As such investigations are on going so as to bring the suspect to book,” he said.

(Mwebantu, Sunday, 29th January, 2023)

THIRTY-FIVE people, including the driver have escaped death after a passenger bus they were traveling in destined to Lusaka from Chipata caught fire and burnt to ashes.

This was after the airbags burst and caught fire, reducing the bus to flames.

Police assistant public relations officer Godfrey Chilabi said the incident occurred today around 14:00 hours near Unyanya area along Great East Road.

“Involved was Lottie Mwale aged 35 of Chipata Motel in Chipa, District Chipata who was driving a Scania Marcopolo Bus registration number AJE 3160 a property of Jonda Bus Tours that was carrying 34 passengers on board. Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident happened when the Motor Vehicle had its airbag burst and eventually caught fire,” he said.

Mr Chilabi said the driver and the passengers escaped unhurt while the vehicle was completely burnt and reduced to ashes.

(Mwebantu, Saturday, 28th January, 2023)

POLICE in Lusaka have shot dead a suspected dangerous  criminal and recovered an AK 47 rifle with ammunition.

The incident  occured yesterday around 18:00hrs along Kasangula Road.

Assistant public relations officer Godfrey Chilabi said this follows a tip-off from an informer that criminals were about to stage a robbery, the Anti-robbery Squad was quickly  dispatched to the area.

“Facts of the matter are  the Anti-robbery Squad spotted a Toyota Axio,along Kasangula road,  matching  the description given by the informant .

The said motor vehicle was parked by the roadside with three suspected criminals standing outside. Upon being challenged by the police, an exchange of fire ensued between the suspected criminals and the police,” he said.

Mr Chilabi said two criminals managed to jump onto the the Axio Motor Vehicle  and sped off while one was hit by a bullet and fell down.

He said when officers advanced to pick him up, an AK 47 rifle with erased serial number with four rounds of ammunution was recovered.

Mr Chilabi said the suspected  criminal was picked and rushed to University Teaching Hospital  for treatment but unfortuantely, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

He said the deceased is believed to have escaped from the recent shooting incident in Kitwe involving a theft of motor vehicle that occurred  at Chiwempala Police station.

“He is also  believed to have been behind  a spate of aggravated robberies that occured between Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces.

An inquiry file has since been opened while a manhunt has been instituted into the other two who fled.

The body of the deceased is in UniversityTeaching Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem,” he said.

(Mwebantu, Saturday, 28th January, 2023)