A suspected thief has died after allegedly being brutally beaten and partially burned by an angry mob in Lusaka’s Matero Township, police have confirmed.
The suspect died on the way to the University Teaching Hospital where he was being rushed for treatment.
The incident happened around 02:00 hours on Saturday morning, at house number 5719 on Chitimukulu Road, where the suspected thief, identified as Lucky Mwiinga, was caught disbanding a radio system (worth KR 5, 900) in a car that was parked inside the yard.
Police spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela said the owner of the house was awakened by a strange noise outside the house and when he woke up, he saw a man jumping the wall-fence leaving his colleague inside the car.
At this point, the owner of the car used his remote control to lock the doors to the car, and called for help.
Neighbours rushed to the house only to find the suspected thief locked in the car and when he was removed, the angry mob descended on Mr Mwiinga beating him up.
Mr Mwiinga, 35, was interrogated and asked to call a relative and he provided a mobile number for his uncle, who was contacted and when he reached the scene, he found his nephew had his legs burnt with plastics.
“The suspect was then rushed to Chingwele Clinic where he was referred to UTH but he died on the way,” Ms Kanjela said.
Police had recorded a statement from the complainant which would be the basis to launch investigations and that anyone who took part in the mob justice would be pursued to face murder charges.
“We have always advised members of the public to desist from taking the law into their own hands. Suspects should be taken to the Police so that they face justice in the courts. We have launched investigations and anyone caught will face murder charges,” she said.
Meanwhile Police in Solwezi are holding a Kalulushi man for firing gunshots and threatening to kill a person at a nightspot.
In the early hours of Saturday, John Makwena of house number 02 Kariba Township in Kalulushi, was alleged to have threatened to kill Steven Salo of Kyawama Township in Solwezi.
“The identified man was armed with a pistol and did fire shots in the air. One expanded cartridge of a Star Pistol was brought to the Police Station as exhibit. Following investigations the suspect was found at a lodge and it was discovered that the firearm was not licensed,” Ms Kanjela said.
The pistol was confiscated while the suspect was arrested and charged with possessing an unlicensed firearm.
In Eastern Province, a man died on the spot while four others sustained injuries when the vehicle they were on strayed off the road and overturned on the Chipata-Mfuwe Road on Saturday evening.
“Involved was Joseph other names are not known yet. The accident happened at Chikumbe area when he failed to negotiate a curve due to excessive speed and in the process he went-off the road and overturned.
“The injuries to the driver are not yet known as he ran away after the accident while the deceased who was identified as Daniel Zulu age not known of Matula High School died on the spot and his body was now in Chipata General Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem,” Ms Kanjela said.
The other casualties are Sofety Ndumwa, Cornelious Tembo, 34, Ethel Mbewe, 35, all of Mutala Basic School, and that they were currently receiving treatment at Chipata General Hospital.
She called for members of the people to assist in the apprehension of the runaway driver.
Aresst all that took part in killing the so called thief,mob justice is a crime.
job well done..no thief should be left freee!!!!!!!!!!!
I meant arrest them all,stop these killings plz fellow Zambians.
I agree. The man was trying to steal a radio, he was not in the act of killing another person.
BA KANJELA MU KWATEKO AMANO. TODAY I CATCH A THIEF, TOMORROW IS ON POLICE BOND AND EVEN COMES TO THREATEN ME ATI WANYA TIZAKUONA A WIL DEAL WITH YOU UNLESS YOU SHIFT FROM TO ANOTHER PLACE. AT NIGHT THE SAME THIEF COMES ANT NIGHT TO DEAL WITH ME I CATCH HIM, DO YOU THINK I WILL SPARE HIM BIG NO. MY ADVICE TO MY FELLOW AND BELOVED ZAMBIANS IS WHEN YOU CATCH A THIEF AT NIGHT DON’T SPARE THEM BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT SPARE YOU AS WELL. ASK THE VICTIMS OF CRIME TO TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM WHEN ATTACKED BY CRIMINALS AT NIGHT. POLICE WILL TAKE 72HRS TO RESPOND SHAME ON YOU KANJELA.
When you take a suspect to the police after two or three days the thief is realised and goes back to stealing again. Somehow mob justice is way of finishing crime in certain areas. Mushili Bonano in ndola was once full of thieves and the police failed to contain the crime activities, but when people started taking the law into their hands by burning any theif they caught, crime rate has reduced to almost zero.
Upon releasing the suspects, the police have to ensure a watchful eye on them until the matter is concluded. However the Zambian scenario has may loopholes with many suspect having disregard for the system due to rouge officers. Mechanisims to to array suspects before the courts in due time and have them on probation are in place but rarely utilised.
Ni released not realised…
Kanjela tapali efyo ulelanda gelo wandi! Remember I am a victim of these thugs & believe me u these guys have no mercy!! Ine ubushiku nkekata kabwalala nkamuchita akantu. . . Please call me lelo Kanjela,remember we have a date after Chipolopolo’s win tonite,we need to celebrate in style. I miss your bokosi.
Everyone has a right to life. What is a stereo comapred to human life??. The problem lies with the system. Why establish penal institituions if they are merely white elephants??. The due process of the law should be allowed to prevail to allow for normacy in society. Zambian society is broken down to the core, as the very things that ordinary people need to live normally are either condemned because of corruption and incompetence or neglected to suit the powers that be. The Familly of the “murdered” suspect should sue the AG and IG for failing to protect him under the nation’s law. Citizen should avoid lawlessness by taking the bull by its horns ( follow the law and make sure the law implementors do their jobs. If they dont, ensure they are tasked to give reasons for the failure).
I have never seen a person talk so much nonsense.
Thanks
are you sure you in your right frame of mind mwana?
Absolutely. There are other ways to reduce theft than to increase the murder rate; it doesn’t matter if some thieves are violent, there is no evidence that this man was or was trying to assault anyone. If you want to reduce crime, then address poverty, inequality, structural violence, corruption, and erosion of basic values. Violence begets more violence. Also, reforms in the justice system and prisons service are needed; more mediation to compensate victims and more humane prisons so that people are not as desperate to avoid being caught and resort to violence.
Mushota Where in Scotland do you go arround lynching suspected criminals?
Members of the people?
Bamuchita log off
kikikikiikik this is interesting indeed
bamuchita log off lol
Well done Matero residents, keep it up. Criminals have got no relationship apart from stealing and killing. No one will be arrested for murder. That was work well done. I salute you. Congratulations!!
he deserved it cause when these robbers pounce on you they make sure they become your travel agents to either heaven or hell, its sad for the family though.
But then why risk your entire self just 2 steal a car stereo which isnt even worth your life?Burn them when u catch them,they retard development.