SIMON MUNTEMBA writes
A 50-YEAR-OLD man of Mapato village in Chief Madzimawe who is alleged to have defiled his 13 years old nice has mysteriously escaped from custody.
And Chief Madzimawe of the Ngoni speaking people of Kasenengwa district, Eastern Province has demanded for the immediate re-arrest of the escapee.
In an interview, Chief Madzimawe identified the suspect as Meleni Mambo whom he said escaped from Chikungu police post.
The tradition leader said the suspect was on July 22, this year apprehended and handed over to Chikungu police post by the concerned villagers for allegedly having defiled his 13-year old nice.
Chief Madzimawe said to the surprise of the villagers and himself who wanted to see justice prevail they were told that the suspect had escaped from police cells.
He wondered why and how the suspect who was detained for almost 10 days without being charged and eventually escaped.
“What is shocking is that Melekelem was apprehended by the concerned villagers last month on Monday, 22nd July and handed him over to the Police, but they (police) kept him all that time without charging him, or perhaps transfer him to Chipata Central Police because the case involved is grave. Only to be told that he escaped some few days ago,” Chief Madzimawe said.
Chief Madzimawe further accused some Police officers at the post of protecting the suspect.
He appealed to Eastern province Police Commissioner Luckson Sakala to thoroughly investigate how the suspect escaped from custody.
And when contacted for a comment, Mr Sakala could not confirm nor deny that the suspect had escaped from custody.
Mr Sakala said he was not aware of the development as he was out of the Province.
“I am not aware of that. I am actually in Lusaka and that information of a suspect escaping from the custody has not reached me,” he said.
