Kitwe council cops kill female vendor

Wed, 28 Jun 2017 14:08:54 +0000

By KELVIN SIABANA

A 29 YEAR  old  woman  of Mulenga compound Anita Nakamba who used to sell traditional  food  commonly known as chikanda  has died after she was allegedly  brutally beaten  by the Kitwe City  Council Police officers when she demanded to be given back her K175 which the officers had confiscated together with her merchandise.

But her sister Jennifer Nakamba has strongly appealed to the Zambia Police and other relevant authority to ensure that the council Police officers who beat her sister to be immediately arrested for law to take its course.

She told the Daily Nation in an interview yesterday that on June 16, when the victim was walking with a tray of chikanda near Shoprite area around 19:00 hrs.

She was later stopped by council police officers who told her that she was conducting illegal business in the streets of Kitwe.

It was at this point that an argument ensued between Anita and council Police officers who took away her K175 which was on a tray of chikanda

She tried to run away  from the hostile officers but unfortunately she was out paced by the overzealous  council cops who quickly caught up with her.

These councils cops have not been arrested and this why  as a family we want this matter to  thoroughly investgated so that the victims can face the wrath of the law,” said Jennifer

She said the council Police caught up with her,  they got the tray which had  the K175 cash and bundled her into the Council Police van.

Jennifer said that the Council Police officers started beating Anita mercilessly in the full view of onlookers.

After the council police realised that they had made a big mistake by beating  a harmless and defenceless woman they decided to take her to Kitwe Central Police station so that she could be arrested but the State Police advised them to take the  matter to Nkana  East Police station.

On reaching to Nkana East Police station Anita was detained for four days and was released on Monday June 19

Jenifer said after her sister was released from custody she started complaining of chest pains and started coughing blood.

She alerted other members of the family who immediately rushed Anita to Kitwe Central Hospital where she was admitted and unfortunately died on June 26.

The body of the deceased is lying in Kitwe Central Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem and burial.

Kitwe Council management could not be immediately reached for a co0mment