UNKNOWN people in Mufumbwe district in North-Western Province have shot dead a 66-year-old man on suspicion that he was a wizard.
North-Western Province deputy commissioner of police Michael Nkaka confirmed in an interview yesterday that the incident happened on Saturday around 20:50 hours.
Mr Nkaka identified the deceased as Lomba Malume Mailoni Musuntu of Nkombalume village in Chief Mushima’s area.
“We have received a report that unknown people shot dead a 66-year-old man using an AK 47 rifle on suspicion that he was a wizard. Mr Musuntu was shot dead in his house,” Mr Nkaka said.
He said the deceased sustained multiple head injuries and police officers picked up three AK47 empty bullet cartridges at the scene.
Mr Nkaka said the body is in Mukinge Mission Hospital mortuary in Kasempa district awaiting post-mortem and burial.
He said police have instituted investigations into the murder.
And four people are nursing serious injuries at Solwezi General Hospital after their vehicle overturned on the Solwezi-Chingola road.
Mr Nkaka said the accident happened on Monday around 15:30 hours about 17 kilometres away from Solwezi town.
Mr Nkaka said the accident happened when the driver of a Toyota Noah registration number ACX 251, identified as Benson Mwanza, 39, of Mikomfwa township in Luanshya, lost control of the vehicle while trying to avoid a pothole.
Those injured are Loveness Yalubamba, 23, of C Street 175, Chililabombwe, Bwalya Shula, 39, of Kabundi East in Chingola and a six-year-old boy identified as Collins Kafupi of Chililabombwe.
Others are Dally Sange, 35, and Maureen Kafwanga, 40, both of Kazomba compound in Solwezi.
Mr Nkaka said Mwanza has been charged with dangerous driving.