Thieves kill school guard, attempt to steal GCE exam papers

A 25- year-old security guard of Twashuka Secondary School in Luanshya has died after he was beaten up by unknown people who broke into the school store room in an attempt to steal General Certificate of Education (GCE) final examination papers.

Luanshya District Commissioner Harold Mbaulu identified the security guard as Joseph Nondo who sustained deep cuts in the head and above the eyes.

Mr Nondo later died in Roan General Hospital where he was rushed.

The Luanshya DC however said the burglars who gained entrance to the school store room only parted away with seven computers as they could not access the examination question papers which are not kept in schools.

“The burglars failed to find the examination question papers if it is true that this is what they were looking for as those papers are no longer kept in schools, but it is terribly sad that such a youthful life has been lost. My office will do all it takes to see that such malice is curbed as Twashuka High School is not the only school affected by the theft involving computers”, Mr Mbaulu said.

He has since urged members of the public to remain alert and report any suspicious happenings to relevant offices to help curb the vice.

And speaking in a separate interview, Luanshya District Board Secretary Terry Changwe described the incident as unfortunate saying the district has put in place stringed measures to guard against examination leakages.

Mr Changwe noted that his office will in collaboration with the police investigate the matter, saying computer theft in schools have become more rampant in the district since the introduction of the new curriculum which included computer lessons under ICT.

The Luanshya DEBS said it was possible that the thieves were after the examination question papers as examination answer sheets that were secured in the strong room were found spread in the head teacher’s office were the strong room was found.

He stated that burglars were seeing it as an opportunity to steal from the schools as they are aware that schools have embarked on the purchase of computers since the introduction of computers subjects in schools.

He further said six other schools so far have been broken into and that a number of computers have been lost.

Among the affected institutions are Roan Antelope, Twashuka and Luanshya Central secondary schools while the primary schools are Chaisa, Mwananyina and Mipundu.

ZANIS