CHIEF Matebo’s brother of the Kaonde people and a Matebo ward councillor in Solwezi West constituency are nursing wounds in Solwezi General Hospital after a mob battered them at the weekend.
The chief’s brother, Goodson Kabulayi and area councillor, Peter Malungisha were rushed to the hospital on Saturday night after they were beaten at Muyashi Basic School. District Commissioner, Albert Chifita was scheduled to address a public meeting at the school when a mob pounced on the two men.
The incident happened around 17:00 hours after Mr Chifita’s delegation, which was in the area to inspect Government developmental projects, had addressed two meetings and was preparing to address the final gathering at the school.
Mr Kabulayi, who was speaking from his hospital bed, narrated how on arrival in the DC’s delegation at the venue of the meeting a crowd asked him to leave for being Chief Matebo’s relation.
He said as he was walking away while the area councillor was taking the DC on a conducted tour of the school, a mob of more than 10 people pounced on him and started kicking him all over the body.
An armed police officer fired in the air three times to scare away the mob, but the crowd was undaunted.
The police officer tried to fire the teargas canister but it jammed, and was forced to physically wrestle Mr Kabulayi from the mob.
Mr Kabulayi ran to the teachers’ houses as Mr Chifita watched helplessly.
The mob then descended on the area councillor whom they started kicking all over. As he attempted to run, one of the men stoned him above the ear.
The DC’s delegation quickly drove to the teachers’ houses where they whisked away the injured duo and rushed them to the hospital.
Mr Kabulayi said some people in the area were opposed to the recognition of his brother as Chief Matebo.
He was yesterday complaining of body pains while Mr Malungisha said he felt pains on his head.
Mr Chifita condemned the incident, but said the professional conduct of the lone police officer saved the situation, which could have easily degenerated in fatality.
“The officer acted in a very professional manner; he shot three times in the air to scare away the crowd, but they seemed like they had not heard the shots, they were just vicious,” Mr Chifita said.
North-Western Province commanding officer, Fabian Katiba said police were yet to make arrests.
Meanwhile, Mr Katiba said Robert Katanga, 31, of Indeco Township in Kabompo district died on Sunday after he was struck by lightning around 14:30hrs
[Times of Zambia]
The country is sitting on a time bomb ready to explore at any slight incident ! Poverty sicken pipo are very dangerous to handle?
FIGHTING IS NEVER A SOLUTION TO ANY PROBLEM.YES THOSE ANGRY BABARIANS TOOK THE LAW INTO THEIR OWN HANDS BY BEATING UP THOSE TWO INOCENT PEOPLE BUT THEN THE LAW WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT’S COURSE.ZAMBIA IS SUPPOSED TO BE A PEACE LOVING NATION AND NOT OTHERWISE.THANKS TO THAT POLICE OFFICER AND THE DC’S DELEGATION FOR RESCUING THE TWO.