A civic leader in Shangombo district has appealed to the police service to intensify patrols in the area in order to hunt down more than 18 suspected armed robbers, who have allegedly stolen more than 55 herds of cattle this month alone.
The same gang is suspected to have recently stolen goods worth millions of Kwacha from a Mr. Lisheko Sitongani of Likulushitu.
Mulamba ward councilor Mandevu Chipali said the suspected robbers have been stealing cattle from farmers at gun point.
Mr. Chipali said more than 20 herds of cattle were stolen from Induna Sambiana and Induna Nasimona of Kaanja area while over 30 other herds of cattle were stolen from Uyiwaye Lubasi, a head teacher at Sinjembela Basic School.
He said in all these theft cases, AK47 rifles were used to scare off or shoot property owners that would resist.
He explained that people in Shangombo were now living in fear because of the same armed robbers.
Shangombo District Planner, Munalula Imonga also confirmed the theft incidents to ZANIS in a telephone interview.
Mr. Imonga expressed worry saying unless something was immediately done, people’s lives and property would remain in danger.
He also appealed to the police to protect and save lives of people.
However, Western Province Commanding Officer, Vael Muzwenga yesterday said police have already intensified patrols in the district to track down the armed bandits.
Mr. Muzwenga said the bandits are believed to be hiding in Sioma-Ngwezi National Park in Shangombo district. Sioma Ngwezi national park borders Zambia and Namibia.
ZANIS/JA/KSH/ENDS
This sounds like a srcipt from Hollywood, Stealing Cattle at Gun Point
These is the result of unemployment, there are no Jobs.
these heartless devils,leave villagers alone.and how do they move such huge herds of cattle mwe bantu?I KNOW,MOST BLOGGERS WON’T AGREE WITH ME BUT AS FO ME AND MY CONSCIOUS I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT SUCH CRIMINALS SHUD BE SHOT ON SIGHT.KIGALI IS ALMOST CRIMINAL FREE BCOSE THEY TOTALLY DECLARED WAR ON THEM CRIMINALS AND KILLED THEIR DEVILS OUT OF THEIR THICK HEADS,THE CITY AND COUNTRY IN GENERAL IS COOL NOW.PA ZED SO MUCH POLITICKING IN THE NAME OF HUMAN RIGHTS…..MA RABISH!
Villagers should form vigilante groups and work with the police to stop these bandits. Unemployment is not an excuse to terrorize other people.
Such activiteis in such a remote place???? I wonder if these people are not working with the police, if they are not the police themselves.
Where are they taking thees cattle so that i can go and have a Barbecue., with a chiiled Budwaiser. Nice.
I guess they used the “Pembela nsokele gun” and not AK47 in a remote village or maybe a “mulila one”
Of all places please these people barely got to know there is a government when Vera Tembo first lady(former) visited them. Now they are being robbed. These terrorists must be stopped and who ever is funding them. It is good we actually get news informing us of these events. Send in the Zambian national gaurd(ZNS). They shall do they Job.
This Village really has suffered. Bandits and crocodiles have made life difficult. Where is the Zambia Police Force? or did that village not vote for RB?
This criminal violence is caused by refugees from Angola, this is the reason that they should all be sent back to reduce security risks for ordinary people in Zambia. Western Province is littered with military weapons mainly coming from across the border in Angola. The solution is to reduce the number of refugees and those who have settled illegally in that part of the country to be deported. This is the legacy of the Angolan Civial war and we the Zambian people are living with this legacy. The military needs to be sent to the area starting at Mayukwayukwa refugee settlement and going further west close to the border. We have to reduce the number of armed robbers and also reduce giving access to criminals to import guns from Angola. In short, gov’t needs to deport all refugees asap!!