Boy 9, dies after alleged torture by reserve policeman
A 9 year old boy of Makululu settlement in Kabwe has died after he was allegedly tortured by a police reservist at Kamanda Police Post, on suspicion of stealing a cell phone and K90,000.
But Central Province police commissioner Solomon Jere denied that the boy identified as Misheck Mumbi was tortured, saying his death was caused by meningitis.
Residents of Makululu are angered over the alleged torture of the boy and are demanding a thorough investigation into the matter.
His family has disputed postmortem results showing that the death was as a result of meningitis.
Misheck, who died on April 10 and his younger brother Patrick, aged four, were reported to have been detained at Kamanda police post on April 9 for about ten hours and were allegedly tortured over the missing cellphone and the K90,000 stolen from a shop at Kamanda market.
The boy’s mother Gift Njovu, grandmother Joyce Ngulubi and some neighbours on Thursday besieged the office of Kabwe district commissioner Patrick Chishala, demanding that the police tell them the truth about the circumstances leading to Misheck’s death.
“This child was not sick. I want to know how my son died,” Ms Njovu said.
Misheck, who died on April 10 and his younger brother Patrick, aged four, were reported to have been detained at Kamanda police post on April 9 for about ten hours and were allegedly tortured over the missing cellphone and the K90,000 stolen from a shop at Kamanda market
Misheck, who died on April 10 and his younger brother Patrick, aged four, were reported to have been detained at Kamanda police post on April 9 for about ten hours and were allegedly tortured over the missing cellphone and the K90,000 stolen from a shop at Kamanda market
She said Misheck died on the way to Kabwe General Hospital after complaining that he was feeling unwell and that the matter was reported to Kabwe police station on April 14 but nothing has been done.
And the DC, Mr Chishala, said he is not happy with the manner in which the police have handled the matter and he has not seen any report yet despite requesting for one.
“The police and the community are now at loggerheads, the police have created a rift with the community,” Mr Chishala said.
When contacted on the matter, Dr Jere said postmortem results indicated that Misheck died of meningitis and was never tortured as his mother was claiming.
“If there is foul play, we will investigate the matter. What we have at hand indicates that police officers were not responsible for this death.
It was caused by meningitis,” he said.
Dr Jere said Misheck was held in police custody from 15:00 hours to 18:00 hours and he developed a fever at home.
[Daily Mail]
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This is so wrong.How do you detain a 9yr old and a 4yr old for 10 hours? Okey the police say it was 3 hrs but still thats against common sense and is plain abuse.If the boy had meningitis before stealing the phone detaining him for such a long time could have worsened the situation.Whoever detained him should be tried for manslaughter.What is Zambian law coming to?
:(( da police tink dey r abve the law,y put a nine yr old in custody in da 1st place,am sure dey must v tortured da kid,2 make matters worse a reserve sure.
How in the world do you detain a 9 year old for anything? Aren’t they suppose to contact the parent and release a child in their custody? If there is any criminal misconduct, it is the parents who get punished through fines or whatever the appropriate restitution might be, not DETAINING AND TORTURING children.
If this turns out to be true, the police officer/s responsible must be arrested and sent away for a long time. How barbaric can one get, torturing a child!? How professional is our Zambian police force anyway? This is simply disgusting!
Also Dr Solomon Jere is very dull,how do you detain a 9years Boy?
Jere should be fired for allowing such, the Police officer arrested for man slaughter
Just tears dropping off my eye. 9 and 4 in police cell? Where on earth? Justice to prevail.
Most police officers are taking the law in their own hands even if am far from kabwe I can guarantee that the boy was beaten and that may have led to his death then ba solomon jere should have an intensive investigation before commenting,defending the reserve police officer. I have been tortured before I know how these guys behave. Mr jere don’t be biased that office you are holding needs someone whose fair,transparent and intelligent as the safety of the whole population is in your hands please boss(ba jere) be fair they’s a life cut short
Most police officers are taking the law in their own hands even if am far from kabwe I can guarantee that the boy was beaten and that may have led to his death then ba solomon jere should have an intensive investigation before commenting,defending the reserve police officer. I have been tortured before I know how these guys behave. Mr jere don’t be biased that office you are holding needs someone whose fair,transparent and intelligent as the safety of the whole population is in your hands pleas
e boss(ba jere) be fair they’s a life cut short
There is a possibility that the boys got meningitis from the police cells. So who is to blame ………officers of course….sad indeed
May God’s justice prevail…just how can we have such happening in a country where there is law…his is inhuman! Even if the boy had taken whatever,it didnt warrant him the arrest!What a manner to die in…MHSRIP…
Well,well,well this only happens in Zambia where is no law and order despite having an ex -kanyangu as president.Too much poverty due to unfullfilled PF promises.
Shame.
Only in Zambia…Surely how can they do this to minors???
Surely you cannot question a minor without a responsible adult being present. Nine and four year old? It is shocking that the police can even make up excuses. They just wanted to get the money and the cell phone for themselves. When the boy denied having them, they detained him to force a confession. I know how the police work when money is involved.
Unbelievable, ARRESTING or DETAINING minors by Policw like that can only happen in Zambia. SHOCKING!
The family needs to go straight to Sata. DC will not help at all, he drinks with Police officers. Let them stay at The Post Newspaper and Mmembe will help him get justice.
This is so sad. The level of police brutality in Zambia is troubling. The very idea of justice seems to be crumbling judging from the videos on YouTube by Muvi tv that show people burning and murdering suspected thieves and such. The value of and respect for life seems to be decreasing. It is such a sad thing to see
Only in zambia can such stupidity happen because we have no police but thugs,,,to cry out loud
I had my handbag stolen once and there was my make-up, money my cigarettes, underwear, mobile phone and a purse as well as NRC and some pounds.
The children that stole looked 9 or 10 in Lusaka when we went swimming
I hate people that steal
No sympathy from Scotland
Thanks
Banana…..?
SO this is now happening in Zambia?Meningitis will tell even upon arrest.Murderere,murderer,murderer
My understanding of detaining at Police stations in Zambia is that the person involved is not put in the cells but merely at the enquiries office for a number of hour sometimes you even have a chat with the police officer. However, if these children were put in custody in the cells then the police were wrong and again even the fact of detention itself these are tolders the police should have only told those people who reported the theft to call the parents to collect the children for the sake of safety. That is if these children were taken to the police by the said person. This is an issue of parents and parenting not police. Very sad very very sad.
Mushota, underwear in a handbag? You tart…
I hope and pray this stupid ***** is in jail. Those two kids are babies mwe bantu. Shame on you!
i am still trying to figure out just how a child can “develop fever at home,” how this fever relates to the meningitis that, in less than 24 hours at most, caused the death of the boy! God and some medic please help us!
Mu Zambia njala…90 pin na ka phone ka 30 pin…torturing a 9yrs boy…I mean killing him sure? This is satanic…
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