Thu, 29 Jun 2017 13:28:24 +0000
By OSCAR MALIPENGA
ZAMBIA Air Force (ZAF) flight sergeant Mark Choongwa died as a result of trauma and stress following the force used by police officers to get him into the police cells, Parliament heard yesterday.
Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo said the statement was in line with the findings of the post-mortem report which attributed the death of Choongwa to trauma and stress.
Delivering a ministerial statement on the findings and recommendations of the joint board of inquiry into the death of Choongwa in police custody at Woodlands police station, Mr. Kampyongo said some police officers at the station used force to get Choongwa into the police cells which appeared to have been excessive according to one of the witness who was in the same police cells at the time.
“The trauma he suffered on his back and the stress of being in police custody triggered the chain of events which led to his sudden death on 18th March, 2017.
“Mr. Speaker, the joint board of inquiry concluded that there was no malice or aforethought on the part of the police officers in question or any other person to murder the deceased. “However, there was gross negligence on the part of the police officers in the manner they handled the whole matter up to the death of the late Choongwa,” Mr. Kampyongo said. He said the joint board of inquiry recommended that the police officers involved should be charged with manslaughter contrary to section 199 of Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kampyongo said government had accepted the findings, conclusions and recommendation of the joint board of inquiry into the death of Choongwa. “To that end, four Zambia Police Service officers who were involved in these sad events have since been arrested and charged with manslaughter. They are currently appearing before the courts of law. “It is disheartening that our defence and security personnel who play complimentary roles in securing the territorial integrity of our nation, its peace and security have negative perceptions of one another,” Mr. Kampyongo said.
