A CLOUD of uncertainty continues to hang over Chambishi Town on the Copperbelt after irate residents went on rampage for the second time in two days, this time setting ablaze a market in Zambia Compound as part of the continued protest against alleged acts of Satanism by some local businesspersons.
The rampaging residents, who on Friday left a trail of destruction when they rioted in the mining township where they set on fire a number of shops and burnt to death four people whom they suspected of involvement in ritual killings, on Saturday night mobilised again and destroyed more property.
Police on the Copperbelt on Saturday arrested 110 residents of Chambishi, mostly women and children, after Friday’s destruction and killing of the four.
By Press time yesterday, the 110 had not been released as they were being screened by police.
A Times of Zambia check yesterday around 10:00 hours found the situation in Chambishi, particularly Zambia Compound, still volatile with the business community living in fear of attacks and destruction of their property.
A heavy presence of police was spotted at Chambishi Police Station where a reinforcement squad from the Kamfinsa mobile unit was stationed in readiness for any eventuality.
Kalulushi District Commissioner, Joyce Nsamba, who was found in Chambishi together with Kitwe police chief, Chibesa Musa, monitoring the situation on the ground, said the market was burnt down in the hours between Saturday night and Sunday morning.
“The situation here is still volatile. The residents have burnt down a market in Zambia Compound,” she said.
George Nyirenda, one of the people who owns shops at the market in Chambishi Mining Township where the residents on Saturday night damaged two more shops in addition to the one they burnt on Friday, said uncertainty still surrounded the town as violence was imminent.
“Right now it’s calm but this can change any time just like last (Saturday) night when we were knocking off. The shop next to us was intact but when we came this morning, it had been destroyed,” he said.
Mr Nyirenda said the violence that rocked the town had adversely affected business as people, despite being a monthend, were afraid of shopping at the market.
And in Zambia Compound where severe destruction to property was recorded after several shops and stands at the market were gutted, scores of people were found mobilising, with some of them vowing not to relent until justice prevailed.
A mob found gathered at one of the drinking places at the market said they were forced to take the law in their own hands because of alleged failure by the police to arrest and prosecute those allegedly involved in acts of Satanism.
They also demanded the release of their colleagues arrested on Friday and Saturday in connection with the riots and the killing of four businesspeople who include Reuben Nkandu, his nephew Dauti Katongo and shop attendant Graham Kabangazhi, with the fourth one only identified as Robert.
Copperbelt Commissioner of Police, Mary Tembo on Saturday said 110 people were arrested in connection with the riots and the killing of the four people.
[Times of Zambia]
What more if they declare Zambia as a Christian nation? People will mercilessly deal with those accused of practicing Satanism even when they don’t have facts. Its very sad for Zambia but it will be more sad if we allow the Christian nation thing which will see an increase in Christian fanaticism. We should learn from history that religious intolerance breeds injustice and the effects are such as these. I bet the people who were accusing this family of practicing satanism think they have a right to burn a person and property and commit atrocities in the name of Christianity…
What type of reporting is this? I can not make head nor tail behind the so called `satanism` which is claimed to be the source of the riots. Please give us a back ground as you wind up your story. To somebody like me,reading the story for the first time ,it is difficult to say what the reporter is talking about.
Revolution.
so these guys want their friends to be released after killing four people? why didnt they go to the poilce to report those acts of satanism with hard evidence? its hard for the police to act on accusation of such nature as the accusers do not provide evidence apart from saying that ba chite bali na kayobela kamene akamaba ndalama, achite bali na lomba yamene ipaya bana, no evidence, even in court none can give evidence, as none sees these people do these things, people accuse them based on suspecion. this is not to say that juju does not exist but that the police have no choice in most of such cases! however for those that broke the shops and killed people evidence is there and they will be sent to jail for a long time if not life or hanged.
Sad news indeed. Please police normalize the situation. Innocent people are suffering.
Combone mentality yachabe.Am not surprised.
too much superstious beliefs amongst poverty stricken miners
– cats meowing at night are also believed to be witches crying for húmán blood
– husbands are feed with lizards, geckos, and all sorts of rubbish for “strong love”
– women inserts all kinds of rubbish in their ‘holes’ to keep their men ‘faithful’
they spend too much time watching voodoo films from west africa which makes them even more brainwashed
and yet they call themselves christians
I personally blame the police for the confusion.When Chambishi residents caught one of those burnt guys with a six year old boy in a sack, and with the mutton cloth in his mouth, they took the man to the police with the evidence.The little boy whose back-bone had unfortunately snapped,died the following day.The criminal was later released by the police on Friday, the same day the boy was put to rest.He was released after his boss Nkandu Reuben has bailed him for 25 million kwacha.Then the people decided to take the law into their own hands.I for one support the people, I condemn the police for being unreasonable and corrupt.Within a month ten people have been killed within Chambishi by the same people, all with hearts and private parts removed; but there is no police report to that effect.
they killed innocent people because of ignorance and supersistious beliefs…
p/s
I tried to post everyting as 1 comment but LT would’nt let me!!!
Zambians you are just backward people! Let’s see where this Christian Nation nonsense will take. Only a nation of id.iots can legislate for and or constitionalize beliefs based on superstition. Join the modern rational world you id.iots otherwise you risk being backward forever. Stop condemning your future generations to backwardness and superstitious beliefs. Science and technology is the future. Invest in schools and not churches, mosques , temples or synagogues.
dear, its not good to call the whole Zambian population idio’ts. its ok to disagree with each but we still have to respect each other. now, you who is an ‘inteletual’ using this kind of language, what would expect from those you call idio’ts?
@Livingstone.
You sound like a good chef who spoils his/her dish by adding a pinch of sand.
Try to read some of your blogs to feel just how much bad luck you create from what you write, even when what your are saying is inherently sensible.
Please check what’s in your hand next time you need to add something to your dish. Add salt, not sand!!
that place is crawling with supersistious illiterates!!!
You are right I don’t understand the standard of journalism going on in our country.
@ At 15 what national are you Mongolian, Siberian, Nigerian, South Sudanese? I strongly suspect you are also Zambian, but please never ever say evil against your own people just because you are not in the country. Everywhere there are bad things happening even worse, but that does not mean they are bakward. Nazis put Jews in gas chambers, Europe bought and sold Africans, colonised Africans, US invaded Iraq for WMD that were not there, are all these backward? GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.
@Livingstone pliz leave us with our idiocy/stupidity coz one of the victims a boy was found in a sack, so to U the educated this technology and advancement or westernisation! Mwe basambilila mwashupa. Muleyako na ku Church baba Ukumfwako ne cebo ca kwa Lesa. Shaaaaa!
Jesus! That bastard can never deliver anyone from evil, use your common sense Ngoza!!
UNZA Monk, is this not what you wanted? The shedding of blood. Are you not still satisfied?
What “revolution” are you on about?
Christian Nation or not Christian Nation, Christianity does not fight fellow human beings, not even those proved to be practising witchcraft or satanism.
Christians fight the Devil himself and the evil spirits or demons. Ephesians 6. If anyone claims that by causing bodily harm or by taking human life they are fighting satanism, know that they are ignorant and not Christian.
Therefore, let us find another day and forum to discuss the Christian Nation thing. This news item is addressing a serious matter about lawlessness and fear that has stopped people from living normal lives. Pray for a return of peace to Chembishi.
Zambians nimatuvi chabe….it is you satanists,you just killed 4 fellow zambians,the devil is in you local people of zambia compound….learn to use your heads not matako!!!!!
Plz Zambians thought u could be smarter than this nosense of stupid ritual beliefs…
Killing a satanist in the name of christianity? No way! Cage the murderers!
Am A Chambishi Resident Who Is Ready 2 Giv LT De Real Truth Which Even The Police Are Tryin 2 Cover Up. part Of The Truth Is In Comment Number 13 By Don Corleone.i Encourage All Zed 2 Read That Comment 4 Clarity.i Adviz LT 2 Investigate By Askin The Families Of Children Who Were Murdered 4 Money Ritual Nt The Police Report.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”Ephesians 6:12