SUN REPORTER writes
THE gruesome murder of a Chinese man and woman by their former employee has shocked and angered the community in the small farming town of Mumbwa in Central Province.
The murder of the couple by their trusted employee inside their shop has left Mumbwa residents reeling in shock.
Kenny Figo is believed to have entered the shop while it was still open for business and hid among merchandise.
The Sun team spoke to a few residents following the discovery of dismembered bodies of the couple.
Ms Sophia Mvula, a local housewife, told The Sun, “everyone cried when the bodies were being removed from the building.”
The couple were running Mumbwa district town’s newest and biggest shop, stocked with merchandise from clothes, food stuff and hardware. It is a typical China mall, complete with all home essentials under one roof and prices described as “fair” in comparison to other shops.
On Wednesday, Mumbwa town literally woke up to a rude discovery on the fringes of the town centre.
Shop location
Just opposite Pep Stores, sat the new Chinese owned shop, SunShare, run by Jinrong Yon, 53 and his wife, Zuming Hu, 49. The couple lived on the property, in an adjacent building at the back.
According to locals talked to, the couple had moved from Lusaka to Mumbwa and the suspected killer, Figo, was one of their employees that they brought with them though he was suspended from work for allegedly pilfering.
The locals revealed that though the couple seemed to trust Figo, the trust was however thin as the man was constantly being suspected of pilfering and often sent on forced leave. Despite this, Figo was always given chance.
Chinese bazaars are common in most African countries and Zambia in particular and highly popular in high density areas because of low priced commodities.
Shocked residents
Resident of Mumbwa watch as police pick up the bodies of the slain couple
Mumbwa residents, including government officials, are shocked at the murder and the manner in which the couple were hacked to death.
A leaked CCTV which has gone viral, shows the moment the suspect attacks the couple and then proceeds to help himself to the safe contents.
From the footage, the suspect is first seen near the safe and then follows the couple when one of them gets up from the floor, where had apparently left them.
A figure is seen with an axe in hand going after one, who tried to run and then the other, the wife and hitting her with the axe on the head.
The defenceless woman puts up her arms in defence, but he continues with two more hacks until the victim falls down.
He then moves to the safe and starts shoving items from there into a bag.
All this while, the axe that had been used to hack the couple, is seen lying in the middle of a room.
This is what has not just made Mumbwa but the whole country shocked and angry.
“The violence exhibited in this killing is very upsetting. Killing human beings as if one is killing a chicken is beyond evil,” complained Ms Mvula.
Mumbwa on Wednesday June 19, 2019 was brought to a standstill as people thronged to town to witness the removal of bodies from the shop.
Those with smartphones quickly captured the unfolding events and kept social media busy with posts.
The Hunt for killer
With the aid of CCTV footage, police quickly pounced on the suspect’s relatives, a brother and his wife were rounded up to help with investigations and to locate the culprit.
He was eventually arrested in Lusaka’s Barlastone area, according to a statement from the Police Inspector General, Kakoma Kanganja who also decried the leaked CCTV footage fearing it could jeopardise investigations.
Police reaction
WE HAVE ARRESTED THE SUSPECT BEHIND THE MURDER OF A CHINESE NATIONAL COUPLE WHICH OCCURRED IN MUMBWA YESTERDAY.
THE SUSPECT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS KENNETH FIGO AGED 26 OF KATALA VILLAGE IN MUMBWA WHO WORKED FOR THE VICTIMS AS A SALESMAN.
HE WAS APPREHENDED FROM BARLASTONE AREA IN LUSAKA TODAY WHERE HE WAS HIDING.
I WISH TO EXPRESS MY DISPLEASURE AT THE LEAKING OF THE CCTV FOOTAGE IN THE SAME MATTER WHICH HAS GONE VIRAL AND HAD POTENTIAL TO JEOPARDIZE INVESTIGATIONS.
I THEREFORE APPEAL TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO DESIST FROM SUCH ACTS.
KAKOMA KANGANJA
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE
MORE POLICE VIDEO
The statement was quickly followed by another leaked video of the suspect sitting with blood oozing from a possible wound on his leg with someone asking him when he had moved to Lusaka.
IMPACT OF KILLING ON BUSINESS
The town’s district commissioner, Felix Ndopu, is worried that this killing would have an adverse effect on investment.
He told the Sun in an interview that his biggest worry was that this might stop investors coming to Mumbwa.
The town’s growth and development needs new money from outsiders putting up businesses, and this will not happen if people are scared off by crime.
He hoped police would decisively deal with this murder to ensure there was no recurrence.
BODIES TRANSFERRED TO LUSAKA
According to locals, the bodies of the slain couple were transferred to Lusaka on Thursday afternoon as a sombre mood engulfed the town’s central business district (CBD)
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