JOIN DRIVERN TAXI AS PARTNER DRIVER TODAY!
“IT pains me to recount that the three pregnancies I carried for nine months each would beget notorious boys to be hunted and gunned down like animals by the Police,” mother of slain serial killer Mailoni brothers said.
Ms Janet Ngimu a widow in her late 70’s further said she regrets that her three sons, Mika, Fabian and Stephano did not only cause pain to her alone, but to the families whose relatives they killed in cold blood and to the nation as a whole in Luano District of the Central Province.
She spoke out as Zambian women join the world in celebrating the International Women’s Day with the theme; ‘‘Inspiring Change: Celebrating God’s Favour on 50 Years of women’s Excellence and Achievements.
Her sons’ atrocities were part of violence against women and children which was the most frequent human rights violations not only in Zambia but worldwide.’’
On the other hand, causes of violent acts lie in the continuing discrimination of women estimating that more than 70 per cent of women were victims of violence.
By her slain sons’ actions, Ms Ngimu suffered all forms of violence ranging from physical to emotional nature.
More than eight months following the killing of her three sons, Ms Janet Ngimu said the crimes committed by sons led to her fleeing her home in Luano after villagers attempted to set her house ablaze, an act she describes as a form of violence.
“It is by God’s grace that I am alive today, because I fled for my life with only the clothes I was putting on and there was no time to park anything, all other things were burnt to ashes,” she said.
She explained that the move by villagers to attempt to kill her by setting her house ablaze came after word went round that she was shielding and supporting my children, an accusation she denied.
Speaking from her hut in Kawasaki area in Kabwe, she maintained that all episode of the killings were still traumatising.
She explained that she was lucky to be whisked away from her home in Luano valley by police officers after villagers set her house and requested to be taken to one of her relatives in Kabwe.
She then, had to be turned into a nomad after continued threats from villagers, a move that forced her to seek refuge in the bush and to other people’s homes who welcomed her.
“Sometimes I had to hide in the bush for many days without food and then I would relocate to another village where I stayed.
I, however, had to immediately leave as soon as I was spotted by villagers and my hosts would ask me to leave for fear of being attacked by villagers, especially those whose relatives had been killed by my three sons,” she said.
She said Chief Chembe later picked her up after seeing the situation was worsening as it was becoming unsafe for her and those looking after her decided that she relocates in the year 2010.
She recalled that her relocation followed the killing of the Chief Chembe’s adviser, Christopher Nyama Champe of Shimpupula Village and headman Mbalakawe Chipokolo of Shitambeni Village.
She said the whole saga has brought misery on her life as she could no longer move freely and cannot return to Luano where many families lost lives at the hand of her sons.
“Many are the times when I asked myself why I went through such pain because of my sons, I became a nomad in my own land; yes they were my sons and they will remain my sons in death, but I should not be condemned by their actions,” she said.
She strongly suspected that her sons’ behaviour could have been ignited by the evil spirits after visiting a witchdoctor.
She said trouble started after one of the deceased, who was not feeling well years back together with his brothers visited a witchdoctor and that upon their return, she noticed that their behaviour had changed.
She said her sons first attacked their other brother who was her only surviving son, Nelson and also at one time beat her up forcing her to run away from home.
She said the first person to be brutally murdered using spears was a Mr Mwelwa who attempted to apprehend the three brothers after mobilising villagers.
“This is the reason I am saying my late sons caused the death for themselves for killing innocent people for no reasons which has left me homeless, ”she said.
Given the scenario, Ms Ngimu said she would not get back to Luano because she did not know how people would react.
It was clear the killing of people in Luano by the three brothers left scars not only to the woman who gave birth to them but the country as a whole, such is the woman who has suffered and needs the support from all Zambians.
Should Ms Ngimu be judged for her children’s crime?
