Police in Katete district yesterday arrested more than 280 people who went on rampage looting shops, damaging properties and vehicles as they protested against the recent brutal murder of a grade 12 school pupil of Katete Day Secondary School.
The residents who were protesting against the murder of Naomi Daka 19 went wild in the process looting some shops.
Police say from the 288 rioters arrested, 144 were males, 117 females and the rest were juveniles under 18 years.
“However screening is still going on. We have also recovered assorted goods ranging from food stuffs, groceries, generators, farming implements and many more.
“we would like urge members of the public not to take the law in their hands but report any problems they may face to the nearest police station,” Police service spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela said.
Faindani Phiri, 24 of Gundula Village of Chief Kawaza’s area who is a ‘key’ suspect of the murder was arrested and charged with murder about two weeks ago.
According to sources, the people connected the brutal murder to business executives who were running some shops at the busy business centre.
People believed to be from a nearby township, Chibolya looted about nine shops including Kessons, Kavulamungu, Isusyas, Ligo Boutique and a shop belonging Paris.
A Rosa minibus registration number ABH 7970 and two Scania trucks registration numbers ALC 4126 and another one ALD 3626 were extensively damaged during the riot.
Business came to a standstill along the Chanida and Great East Roads as the unruly people ran amok from 08:00 hours to 11:30 hours.
Police from Chipata Police Station were deployed in Katete to beef up manpower.
Both Eastern Province Police Commissioner Grace Chipalila and Katete District police chief Peter Kaisa confirmed the development in Katete yesterday in separate interviews.
Ms Chipalila, however, denied allegations that the business persons were behind the death of Naomi.
“As I am speaking now, I am on the ground trying to trace people behind the breaking of the law,” she said.
Colonel Kaisa also said he was surprised that people started rioting instead of waiting for the investigations to be concluded.
Eastern Province Minister Malozo Sichone condemned the barbaric behaviour exhibited by the unruly residents.
Good news , the police should now charge all the rioters and looters and bring them before the courts of law. These business people have nothing to do do with the killing of the poor girl .Kaysons Kavlamungu have been in business in Katete since Northen Rhodesia time they are also one of the biggest transporters in Eastern province. this culture of looting and burning properties has got to be stopped before it gets out of hand
#1 CHUNKY CHARLIE you dark chimpanzee evil dull PFOOL! Don’t try to insult innocent Katete Zambians who are being killed by Sata & PF!
Sata & Kabimba will soon be sorted out like the way Kadhaffi was killed in Libya. Zambians are angry against satanists Sata & his evil ritual PF murderers.
Just like in 1986 & 1990s when Zambians rioted against Kaunda & UNIP, Sata & PF time of reckoning is coming very soon.
Zambians have said & they are talking through all these riots.
Sata wont survive at all no matter what evil & greedy PF thugs on this blog lie, Sata’s fate is wont be good.
It is just to early for Zambians to riot against these PF satanists.
For how long, is Sata & PF satanist going to kill & sacrifice innocent Zambians blood?
is this the new Zambia? rioting in Solwezi, in Katete, what next? Kaunda’s end of the road started like this. People normally riot when they feel powerless, lose patience in the govt institutions – that’s when they take matters in their own hands. Be careful people!!
The solution is to bring isangoma from SA so that we can determine who realy killed the little girl.Let the law be changed to accomodate for investigation to be done through an isangoma
The biggest problem we have is that whoever prospers in business, whoever buys a car, whoever builds a house is a satanist. How do you justify looting from a satanic shop? Please bring all the culprits to book. These Nigerian films that we have been exposed to have really contaminated our minds.
No.2 Mano, you must stop myopic kind of analysis. May be you were not there in 1986-90. In 1986 and 1990 people rioted due to recurring critical shortages in essential commodities and the unbearable mealie meal price hikes by the Kaunda regime.This situation in Katete is different. Be critical.
No 4, buruchaga, you mean like the current shortages of mealie meal and fuel. Oh, Kaunda also used to block any public assembly of any grouping perceived to be in opposition to his views!
police negligence,lol.
No satanism involved, tell us the truth, PF District leaders namely Eneless Phiri, Mtekama Mwale & others involved, they convened a meeting wednesday evening in soweto compound, police were informed but failed! Dig deeper as m’membe puts it!
Police leaked their investigations to people who having heard who were the culprits decided to take the law into their hands
why was the law not exercised on Naomi”s death? why is it that looting satanists shops has become an issue of concern now and yet no body of you was concerned of Naomi’s death? we are not discussing politics but an innocent girl’s lost life. People want to know the mission behind Naomi’s death. tell us