A suspected criminal has been shot dead after attempting to steal copper cathodes.

Police deputy spokesperson Danny Mwale said the incident occurred today at 06:40 hours along International Road near Kakoso Stream Bridge in Chililabombwe District in which the Anti-Robbery squad, while conducting routine patrols along the said road, found three suspects on top of the truck attempting to steal copper cathodes.

He said the suspects had cut the ratchets used to tie the bundles together and were about to start throwing the copper cathodes off the moving truck.

Mr Mwale  said when police challenged them with firing warning shot, the suspects jumped off the Truck.

He however said efforts to stop them failed as they all scampered and unfortunately, one was hit by a bullet on his left knee and sustained a bullet wound.

“The suspect was apprehended and found with a matchete and a knife on him. Upon being interviewed, he identified himself as Marron kaluchelo aged 33 of kakoso plots in Chililabombwe District. He also revealed the names of the people he was with and where they take the Copper Cathodes after stealing,” he said.

Mr Mwale said suspect was rushed to Kaloso District Hospital for medical attention but later died around 10:30 hours.

“His Body is in the same Hospital mortuary awaiting formal identification and postmortem,” he said.

“Brief facts are that on January 31, 2023 at around 05:00 hours, the Anti-Robbery crack squad in Chililabombwe went for patrols in an effort to curb the rising Copper thefts and thefts of goods in transit.

Whilst doing patrols along the International Road, they spotted three suspects on top of the HOWO Truck registration number registration 2386 AT05 and trailer  registration number 2390 AT05 which was driven by Mukalay Richard aged 49 of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The truck was carrying copper cathodes enroute to Tanzania,” he said.

Mr Mwale added that police have launched a manhunt for the other suspects who are currently on the run.

(Mwebantu, Tuesday, 1st February, 2023)

PRECIOUS Kaunda, the six year old girl of Kawambwa who was found dead days after she was chased from class by her pre-school teacher has been put to rest.

Luapula province commanding officer Gloria Mulele has confirmed that Precious has been buried but investigations over her mysterious death have continued.

Ms Mulele said as part of the investigations the police have recorded a warn and caution statement from Esther Nanyangwe 35 a teacher a Mpota primary school who sent Precious away from class after started crying.

“The police have taken a warn and caution statement from the teacher and investigations in the matter have continued. The girl has been buried,”said Ms Mulele.

Three boys found the Precious’s body floating on the river as they went fishing.

Ms Mulele said Jealous  Musonda, Lupambo Katepa and Pathias Mubanga found Kaunda’s body floating in a decomposed state.

“Upon receiving the report the police rushed to the scene of the crime and found the body floating by the river side and managed to retrieve the body. The police conducted a search within the scene of the crime and found a school bag, underway, shoes, a pencil, a pair of socks and also struggling marks,” Ms Mulele said.

She said a physical  inspection  on Precious’s body was conducted where the police found that her lower and upper lips were removed, part of the nose and the private part were removed.

(Mwebantu, Tuesday, 31st January, 2023)

A 36-YEAR-OLD woman of Lusaka has died after she was allegedly beaten by her former boyfriends.

A manhunt has since been launched for the two suspects who are believed  to be on the run.

Police assistant public relations officer Godfrey Chilabi said the report was made by the woman’s employer of Kuku Farms Obama, Lusaka, to the effect that her maid Yvonne Kabwe died at the health facility after she was allegedly beaten and injured Derrick and Kebby other names unknown.

“The two were  reported to be former boyfriends to the deceased,” he said.

Mr Chilabi said Ms Kabwe sustained a swollen right cheek,  face and general body pains.

He said unknown objects were allegedly used in the act.

Mr Chilabi said preliminary investigations indicate that on the fateful date, Mr Kabwe reported to her employer that she was not feeling too well without divulging into any further details.

He said later information came to the employer’s knowledge that actually her maid was allegedly beaten.

“The body is in the University Teaching Hospitals mortuary awaiting  postmortem,” he said.

(Mwebantu, Monday, 30th January, 2023)