By OLIVER SAMBOKO
The Zambia Police should put to an immediate stop the gun culture in Gwembe Valley so as to protect the elderly persons whom have become targets for extrajudicial killings on suspicion of practicing witchcraft, Gwembe valley Development Activist Winter Mavombo has said.
Mr Mavombo said a lot of innocent lives have been lost through senseless killings exacerbated by lack of police action.
“As I am speaking now, because there are four people that have been killed by unknown people out of mere jealous and suspicion that the victims were practicing witchcraft,” said Mr Mavombo.
He disclosed that in past two weeks, three people including a headman were murdered in Sinafala and Syambabala wards in unexplained circumstances.
He said if nothing was done immediately, innocent people would continue dying at the hands of hired assassins who are paid as low as K250 to carry out the killings.
“As people of Gwembe, we are deeply saddened with the increase in numbers of gun killers in the Gwembe valley community, predominantly in Chirundu, Siavonga Gwembe, Sinazongwe Zimba and Kalomo districts,” he said.
Mr Mavombo has called on government through Ministry of Home Affairs to move in and do a cleanup on illegal gun ownership before more lives were lost.
He said many people, especially elderly persons and those running businesses were living in fear because it was no longer about witchcraft suspects only who were being killed but also dispute within the neighborhood neighbor, is more likely to shot by the Karavinas.
Mr Mavombo said there is need for the police to bring to book manufacturers homemade guns and also control the selling of bullets to people without gun identification.
He also called on community members to step up and ensure the safety of the elderly people in the area.
“We must all agree regardless of our differences we need each other both Elderly and youths because soon we will be Elders and we will be the next target,” he said.
