Three apprehended fishermen found

Three apprehended fishermen found

Nchelenge, June 15, ZANIS —–Three fishermen of Nchelenge district who were last week apprehended on Lake Mweru by Congolese fisheries officials and later abandoned for the dead at Kasolo Island in Congo have been found.

The incident which happened last week has been confirmed by Luapula Province Police Commanding Officer Philemon Mutale in an interview with ZANIS this morning.

Mr Mutale identified the victims as James Mubanga aged 31, Savior Chishala and Derrick Chishala both aged 28 all of Kasheta Village in Chief Kambwali’s area.

The Provincial Police Chief said the three fishermen were apprehended by three Congolese officials on Saturday last week during a fishing expedition on the Zambian waters.

He said after apprehending them their assailants demanded for an undisclosed amount of money in order to release them but unfortunately the fishermen did not have that kind of money.

He disclosed that the Congolese officials who failed to make money from the Zambian fishermen went away with their boat, five two inch nets and some fresh fish.

He explained that the following day after they did not return home relative started searching for them and found the trio at Kasolo Island in Congo where they were dumped in a disused anchored boat.

Mr Mutale said the trio have since been re-united with their families.

He further disclosed that the development was only reported to Police in Nchelenge after the fishermen were rescued by family members and police only went there to verify the communication.

Last month a fisherman was shot at close range by a Congolese soldier in cold blood for allegedly using illegal fishing gear on the Congolese waters.