PETER SICHALI writes
FOUR men of Chinsali district have been arrested for allegedly murdering a 78 year old man over suspicions of practicing witchcraft, Muchinga Province Commissioner of Police Joel Njase has confirmed.
Mr Njase said the incident occurred on Saturday around 20:00 hours about 05:00 meters from the the victim’s house in Joseph village Senior Chief Nkula’s area.
Mr Njase said named the suspects as Kangwa Makumba, Mwila Ellia, Chanda Steven and Mushili Kalwambo all of Joseph village.
“We received a phone call received from Kombe Elijah 28 of Nashinda school compound also a CCPU member that Edward Bwalya Kwalala aged 78 was murdered,” Mr Njasesaid.
He said the man sustained multiple cuts in his head, fractured right arm and multiple bruises.
“Brief facts are that the victim was named to be a wizard previously and on Saturday around 19:00 hours the said suspects went to his house and started insulting him, saying he was a wizard,” Mr Njase said.
The Commissioner of Police said the victim’s daughter, Delilah Bwalya and the grandchild Brighton Bwalya, tried to stop them and they unlawfully wounded them using a machete.
He said the suspects later went and unlawfully wounded the man on his head using a machete, brown bottle and a stick outside his house about five meters from his house.
Mr Njase said the body was deposited deposited in ChinsaliGeneral hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.
He said a docket has opened.
