BARELY weeks after nine police officers were attacked and brutally injured by a mob of irate Katete’s Kamwanza villagers, history has repeated itself with seven officers from the Zambia Police Service becoming the latest victims after they were attacked for allegedly disrupting a traditional ceremony known as Bwela-Bwela.
The seven police officers in Luanshya have been injured and their motor vehicle damaged when an angry mob descended on them as they attempted to disrupt the traditional ritual.
Bwela-Bwela is a traditional practice where a person believed to have died as a result of witchcraft controls their coffin on the day of burial and directs the pallbearers to the suspected witch.
Copperbelt Police Commissioner, Peacewell Mweemba, said in a statement that the riotous behaviour was as a result of the death of Enock Kaoma, aged 19, of Kawama Compound, who died on Friday, December 2, 2022 after vomiting blood.Mr. Mweemba said the residents of Kawama Compound suspected that Kaoma was bewitched by his grandmother who had deserted her house.
He explained that yesterday, an agitated mob was conducting the ritual when police rushed to the scene to contain the situation. They were stoned, and seven police officers were injured and a motor vehicle damaged.
Mr. Mweemba however disclosed that reinforcement from Luanshya Police station, Roan Police Station, Luanshya District Police, Division OPs and Kamfinsa Mobile Unit was engaged to contain the situation and Kaoma was buried by Police. Mr. Mweemba indicated that the conditions of the injured officers are reported to be stable.
He added that police have instituted investigations in the matter and no one was apprehended. – ZANIS.
