Police in Choma have apprehended 16 people following riots that occurred in the area yesterday.
Police Spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela said the 16 include one person who is believed to be behind the spreading of wrong information that the suspects to the taxi drivers’ murder had been arrested, rumours that incited people to demand that the police hand over the suspect to them.
Ms Kanjela also told ZANIS in a statement in Lusaka today that two of the arrested persons are female while the remaining fourteen are male.
She said a screening process is currently on-going for the sixteen people and further updates will be issued once the screening process is completed.
And Ms Knjela disclosed that in Northern Province, a 45 year old man has been arrested for defiling a 14 year old girl.
She said the incident occurred on 12th April, 2013 between 14:00 and 16:00 hours at Muswilo Village in Chief Tafuna of Mbala district.
Ms Kanjela said the suspect, Peter Sikazwe has since been arrested and charged with defilement contrary to section 138 CAP 87 of the penal code of the laws of Zambia and will appear in court soon.
The Police Spokesperson further revealed that in Eastern Province, a 22 year old man has been apprehended in connection with the death of his 15 year old wife.
Ms Kanjela said the incident occurred on 12th April, 2013 around 08:00 hours at Malima Village of Chief Madzimawe in Chipata district.
She said the incident happened when the deceased, aged 15, of the same address took some medicinal substance in an attempt to terminate her three month old pregnancy.
Ms Kanjela said the victim died on the way to the hospital when she was being rushed by her husband Dickson Banda.
She said Banda is being held to help with investigations while the body of the deceased is lying in Chipata General Hospital Mortuary awaiting post mortem.
Meanwhile, Ms Kanjela said Lusaka man who is believed to be in his 40’s has died on the spot after being hit by a speeding motor vehicle.
She said the incident occurred yesterday, 13th April, 2013 around 18:20 hours along Twikatane road near Diana Kaimba Basic School in Twikatane.
Ms Kanjela identified the deceased as Aaron Chitunda aged between 45 and 49, of unknown house number in Twikatane Compound who sustained fatal body injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival at UTH after being hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser, registration number ABM 1428.
The vehicle was being driven by David Chinyama aged 38 of house number 253/09, Kaunda Square Stage two.
Ms Kanjela said the accident happened when the pedestrian attempted to cross the road and was hit by the on-coming motor vehicle.
She said the body of the deceased is lying in UTH mortuary while the driver of the vehicle has been arrested and charged with causing death by dangerous driving contrary to section 161 of the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002.