Thu, 29 Jun 2017 13:29:08 +0000
By KELVIN SIABANA
POLICE in Kitwe yesterday fired teargas canisters to disperse street vendors during the funeral procession of 29 year old vendor, Anita Nakamba of Mulenga compound who died after allegedly being beaten by the Kitwe City Council police officers.
After the church service in Mulenga compound, the street vendors mobilised themselves and carried the coffin but on their way to Chamboli Cemetery where Nakamba was to be buried, they changed their minds and decided to take the coffin to the Civic Centre in town as they accused the council Police of being behind the death of their colleague.
The angry street vendors said that there was no way they were going to bury their fellow vendor in dignity because the Council Police who killed her should have taken full responsibility of her burial.
As the vendors carried the coffin of their late colleague, they continued to castigate the council Police officers through solemn songs.
Ms. Nakamba died after allegedly being beaten by Council police when she was found selling chikanda in undesignated area. She died a few days upon being released from police custody.
Later Police got the coffin and loaded it in their van and took Ms Nakamba’s remains to an unknown destination.
Meanwhile, in the melee, some angry vendors took the law into their own hands by throwing stones to some unsuspecting motorists and cases of some damaged vehicles were recorded along the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriage way near Mulenga Township.
Some motorists using the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriage way resorted to parking their vehicles at Mulenga Police post to wait for the situation to calm down.
And Kitwe City council Public relations Manager Roy Kuseka expressed sadness over the death of Nakamba and said that the local authority would cover all funeral expenses to lighten the burden of the deceased family.
