POLICE in Lusaka are holding a man whom they rescued from the wrath of Misisi Township residents who allegedly saw him with a small coffin.
The man, Arnold Mumba, who attracted scores of people was spotted with the small coffin at a shop under construction, behind Shoprite off the Lusaka-Kafue Road.
Lusaka Police Commanding Officer, Greenwell Ng’uni, said the police apprehended Arnold Mumba whom they wanted to charge for conduct likely to cause the breach of peace, but could not do so on suspicion that he was mentally unstable.
The people wanted to descend on the man after a false alarm that the coffin contained the body of a baby. However, it turned out that the coffin contained a doll.
Mr Ng’uni said initially Mr Mumba said he was delivering the coffin to someone who owes him money, but later changed his statement and said that it belonged to him.
The man identified himself by various names before he settled for Arnold Mumba.
“As police, we wanted to charge Mumba for conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, but it seems the man is mentally unstable. We are just holding him for his own safety,” Mr Ng’uni said.
Some Misisi residents tried to take advantage of the situation to loot a near-by shop, but quick action by police prevented the plunder.
Mr Ng’uni said the mob started throwing stones when police arrived at the scene, but there was no damage caused to property and no one was hurt.
Eyewitnesses who had earlier interrogated Mr Mumba said the man claimed that the coffin was meant for the shop owner who allegedly owed a Tanzanian national millions of Kwacha.
Others claimed Mr Mumba only ran “mad” after he allegedly opened the coffin and read the contents of the letter.
Mr Ng’uni dismissed the stories as grossly exaggerated.
“People want to exaggerate anything. Initially they said the coffin was carrying a baby’s body and yet it was a doll made of cloth,” Mr Ng’uni said.
By press time, the suspect was still in police custody.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Ebuloshi nomba uyo. Ndiye umfiti uyo… awee…. filetinya mweee…
On second thought, leave him alone, he seems and sounds like he is mentally challenged…
This is African superstition at it’s best. A small coffin and a doll are enough to spell grave danger in an African community. That man’s state of mind only reflects the confusion that exists in that spiritual world of superstition.
Its tricky.Umfwiti pa Zed its too much.The pope recently on his visit to Africa implored Africans to give up witchcract.If the vatican can be concerned,it then shows how rampant and widespread this practice is in Africa.
IF ONLY MISISI COMPOUND CAN BE ERASED FROM THE FACE OF LUSAKA.
upuba wanu imwe ala!!why should you even protest?instead of working hard and earn money in a decent way,you decide to go kuma sangomas!!
#5, Imwe Ba Kapondo.
elyo nomba a bena Misisi compound population kuya kwii?? , emigrate to Bauleni , Chingwere or Malapodi compound?lol
Residents threw stones at a shop but no damage. These guys do not know how 2 throw stones. They shud ask pipo in the middle east 4 xtra lessons in stone throwing. Yes pliz misisi shud b erased. I wonder if these pipo hav title deeds. Govt shud relocate them to pave way 4 new houses in misisi. Sori site
People in Zambia need to get a grip. They seem to have a warped mind set. What is it about dead bodies and coffins they find scary? The dead are dead, full stop!!
#5, you are right, Misisi and even Kanyama and John Laing (Lenge) should be pulled down to allow for proper structures. As to where the residents should go?…..may shimabala!
This is utter lunacy. It is about time that authorities started handing out stern punishments for any involvement in such mob-justice behavior. Often people think they have a right not only to apprehend suspected criminals and brutalise them without any regard for the fact they are are also breaking the law. This nonsensical behavior has no place in a descent society and authorities need to take charge and ensure that it is rooted out of Zambian society. It is simply pathetic and a disgrace that such behavior is still treated with apathy. If it is not condoned at football matches, why is it still condoned in the compounds and Lusaka City market, in particular?
#7 On a seroius note at the pace which the area along kafue Rd is developing all the surrounding shanties have to be demolished and the residents relocated. i mean MISISI,CHIBOLYA and JOHN LAING.so what a serious goverment can do is to gazzete these areas as commercial areas.so all those that have built in these areas should sell their houses or plots to commercial developers and pass an altimatum say,if you haven’t sold off in five years the land on which you have built reverts to goverment.there are a lot of people who are hungry to build in lusaka but are short of prime land and in three years you will find that these kombonis are out.these people from these kombonis will also go out and buy shacks in other areas and build decent structures.what we envy on N1 as you enter Joburg can…
sp:serious
#13, my sincere apologies if I offended you. But truly speaking, where do you take such people after you raze misisi compound as these people are already displaced? Otherwise they will be thieving ku mayadi..,
No offense meant in # 7, my bro, I greatly respect your postings….
Mrs stevens akapondo doesnt easly take offence. U knw wat? These shanties on the enterance of the main cities nid 2 b demolishd at all cost n govt shud build low cost houses for highly density places n the plan shud b of a certain standard. They shud gve 1st priority 2 the pipo staying there misisi john lenge.They shud hav the capacity 2 control the mashroomin kombons. Wats the name of the shantie on the kitwe enterance from ndola on the dual cariage way?
NI NDOSHI
#15 , I have forgotten the name of that Santie Compound in Kitwe could be Ndeke compound but I remember there is Wusakile Compund on the other side which is also an eye sore.. Nomba ba govt. bakafyuma kwisa impiya ya ku panga ayo ama low cost houses?? thats another decade in waiting and maybe another governmen,. not this MMD maybe??? given a doubt of benefit..,.
Mrs stevens cud it be mulenga close 2 wusakile police n ndeke. Govt under national housing authority can do it. wonder what the housing authority do jst leaving jackets on the chairs pretending there in the office.
MRS STEVENS,thanx for you humbleness.however i don’t see any reason why you should apologise as you didnt hurt me in any way.difference in opinions is good for debate and i think to a larger extent that’s the whole essence of blogging.but ignore the rants of that thing insinuating that i dont take critisism.go to the MISA posting and between the threads you will see who is provocative.
I respect you.
you are right ZAMPEOPLE ulya muntu ni ndoshi.
Mwana relax! Be a man if u r a woman. Ignore certain blogers the more u xchange words wth them the more u sink low 2 their level. I love ur positings, opinions n critics no beef boi let the chicks fight not we men. Peace boi 1 zam 1 state. Mrs stevens we need peace here were r u?
we all need peace.even bricklayers are human infact some of them are well established and they are the ones building all these structurers you are admiring today and for you to equate me to them i find it not demeaning.so just swallow your pride and censor yourself next time.
NKECHE ALI NAMWA.sorry for everything my boss.let’s begin a new chapter.
Akapondo peace pipo hav admired us i guess. Wanisekesa at bricklayer….ok boi no offence til then. Take care!
# 18, unfortunately I have never lived in Kitwe, but Chingola, Luanshya, Mufulira, Kalulushi and Ndola, Only passed through Kitwe when II drove through the city. Wusakile township always stood out as it is a mining town ship along the way and along the dual carriage way to be specific/precise. Sorry I was not so helpful on that one. Sorry again.
There is no way a sane person can carry a coffin this man is totally mad
shame
am a missisi product,kapondo your idea of clearing misisi from the face of africa is an indication of stupidity.misisi should be upgraded instead