Engineer dies in Ndola after alleged betting loss

A man of Ndola’s Chinese Complex has died after allegedly taking his own life following the loss of money on a betting platform.

Copperbelt Province Police Commanding Officer Mwala Yuyi confirmed that the deceased, identified as 38-year-old Ali Mulenga, a junior engineer at ZESCO, shot himself using a hunting rifle around 09:00 hours.

Mr Yuyi said the incident occurred after Mulenga reportedly lost money he had raised from the sale of his two vehicles through an Aviator betting game.

He explained that the deceased had recently sold his two Honda Fit cars and used the proceeds on the betting platform, where he lost all the money. Following the loss, Mulenga is said to have been experiencing marital challenges.

Mr Yuyi further disclosed that Mulenga did not leave behind a note explaining his actions.

He narrated that prior to the incident, Mulenga’s brother received a call from their mother, Dorothy Kazunga, who alerted him that the deceased had intentions of harming himself and urged him to rush to his house.

Upon arrival, the brother reportedly heard a gunshot from inside the house. He forced open the locked bedroom door and found Mulenga lying in a pool of blood.

“The deceased died instantly and the firearm was found lying on the floor beside him. He sustained a deep wound on the left side of the head, and one empty cartridge was recovered at the scene,” Mr Yuyi said.

Police officers who visited the scene confirmed the findings, and the body has since been deposited at Ndola Central Teaching Hospital mortuary.

Mr Yuyi said investigations into the matter are ongoing and described the findings so far as preliminary.

He has since urged members of the public to seek help and avoid resorting to self-harm when faced with challenges.