Three escapee suspects have died in Nakonde District of Muchinga Province after they were hit by stray bullets, while trying to escape from lawful custody together with other suspects at Nakonde Police Station.

The incident happened yesterday Saturday, January 24th, 2026, when 10 suspects facing various offences such as murder and other felonies escaped from lawful custody through the main grill door leading to different cells.

Muchinga Province Police Commissioner, Denis Moola, who confirmed the development in a press statement issued to the the media in Chinsali this morning, said the three deceased suspects were hit by stray bullets when warning shots were fired to stop the fugitives who were running in different directions.

Mr Moola said brief facts are that on Saturday 24^th January, 2026 around 14:30hrs, Kapambwe Chongo and three other officers were on duty and whilst working during feeding time, the main grill door was opened to enable two suspects to get a pot of food which was prepared from outside the cells so that the other suspects in custody could feed.

Mr Moola alleged that as reported by Constable Chongo, two suspects were called during feeding time to collect a pot of food from the entrance and in the process other suspects came out from various cells and grabbed the officer, allowing others to escape and run into different directions.

The Provincial Police Commissioner stated that some warning shots were fired to stop the escapees from running away but they continued, and in an effort to stop them, unfortunately three of them were caught by stray bullets.

He said the three were immediately rushed to Nakonde District Hospital for treatment but later died due to injuries.

Mr Moola added that four others have been recaptured alive while three others are still at large, adding that Police has since launched a manhunt.

He has therefore appealed to community members to report any suspicious person to the police without delay as investigations on the case are in progress.

30 illegal Ethiopian immigrants were yesterday around 23:00 hours apprehended in an ambush in Nyimba District of Eastern Province for illegal entry into Zambia.

The immigrants were bundled in an Altaf Ambulance driven by a Chipata based driver, Boyd Phiri, aged 40.

Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer, Robertson Mweemba, has confirmed the development to the media, stating that the Altaf Ambulance Registration Number, BAT 3037, belongs to Altaf Private Hospital in Chipata District.

Mr Mweemba said it is believed that the driver, working together with his co-driver, Siyamukenge Chikema, 45, did pick up the Ethiopian nationals from various points.

He indicated that some of them were picked in Chanida, Katete, and others on the Mozambique Road.

Mr Mweemba further explained that as the police interviewed the Zambian drivers on the immigrants, the two disclosed that they received instructions from Kennedy Phiri of Katete District that there was a patient to be picked in Katete and needed an ambulance, but instead were given to ferry 30 Ethiopians upon arrival.

He has stated that currently the two Zambian drivers together with the 30 Ethiopians are in police custody, adding that the motor vehicle used has also been impounded.

Mr Mweemba stated that the arrest was made possible through teamwork, with Kacholola Checkpoint Security having informed Nyimba Police Station of the illegal immigrants.

Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa has described the detention cells at Lusaka Central Police Station as “hell on earth,” citing conditions he says are degrading, unsafe, and unfit for human beings.

Sampa made the remarks after spending two nights in police custody over a cyber-related matter. He said the environment inside the holding cells was characterised by filth, insect infestations, overcrowding, and the absence of basic privacy.

“At night, mosquitoes swarm above you, and cockroaches crawl across the walls, floor, and even on people. These cells are hell on earth,” Sampa said.

He stated that detainees are forced to use open pit latrines without partitions, leaving inmates exposed while using toilet facilities. According to him, the lack of separation between sanitation areas and sleeping spaces contributes to foul odours, health risks, and psychological distress.

“There is no privacy at all. Everything is open. Human dignity is completely ignored in those cells,” he said.

Sampa noted that Lusaka Central Police Station remains largely unchanged from its colonial-era structure, with aging infrastructure that has not kept pace with modern custodial standards. He said the facility’s outdated design makes it difficult to maintain hygiene, manage overcrowding, or prevent the spread of infections.

His account adds to broader national concerns over the state of police detention facilities, which have recently drawn attention following reports in the press about overcrowded cells, delayed court processing, and poor custodial conditions.

Recent court-related reporting has highlighted challenges within the criminal justice system, including congestion in holding facilities, prolonged detention of suspects, and the strain placed on police infrastructure by high arrest volumes in Lusaka and other urban centres.

Sampa warned that extended detention in such conditions could result in illness, exposure to disease, and long-term health complications, particularly for detainees with existing medical conditions.

“These are not animals. These are citizens. Even when someone is accused of an offence, they still deserve humane treatment,” he said.

He called for the immediate demolition of the existing detention block and the construction of a modern facility that meets acceptable health, safety, and human-rights standards. Sampa suggested that the Constituency Development Fund could be utilised to finance a new police station.

“Demolish this structure and rebuild it. By August next year, Lusaka Central should have a new facility. Resources can be found, including through CDF,” he said.

The remarks come at a time when public institutions across the country are under growing pressure to improve service delivery and infrastructure. Coverage in national newspapers has recently focused on government efforts to modernise public facilities, including roads, schools, health centres, and police posts in various districts.

Against that backdrop, Sampa’s comments have resonated with citizens who say similar conditions exist in other police stations around the country. Social media users and community voices have shared accounts of overcrowded cells, poor ventilation, and inadequate sanitation.

Police authorities had not issued a formal public response to Sampa’s claims at the time of publication. Attempts to obtain comment from senior officers at Lusaka Central Police Station were unsuccessful.

Sampa said he did not seek preferential treatment during his detention and instead chose to speak publicly to highlight the conditions faced by ordinary detainees who lack influence or political standing.

He maintained that custodial facilities, especially in the capital, must reflect basic standards of decency, safety, and respect for human life.

Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga, has commended Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) for launching the next generation business and beneficial ownership register.

Mr Mulenga says the move taken by PACRA is a significant step in promoting transparency and accountability within the business community.

He notes that the use of a beneficial ownership register is going to enhance the rate of doing business in Zambia.

The media reports that Mr Mulenga said this in a speech read for him at the event last night by Minister of Tourism, Rodney Sikumba.

He stressed that conducting business in Zambia is improving everyday through the policies and initiatives that the government is implementing.

Mr Mulenga further saluted the agency for demonstrating strong leadership in implementing reforms aimed at bettering the business environment in the country.

Speaking earlier, Smart Zambia National Coordinator, Percy Chinyama, thanked GIZ Zambia for investing in the establishment of the next generation business and beneficial ownership register project.

Mr Chinyama said the financial support provided by GIZ Zambia towards the project is highly appreciated.

Meanwhile, PACRA Board Chairperson, Allan Mwaba, said the launch of the next generation business and beneficial ownership register project marks an important government milestone, one that reflects Zambia’s continued commitment to creating a modern business environment.

Mr Mwaba added that the launch of the business and beneficial ownership register is not an isolated initiative but a national reform.

Zambia Police Inspector General, Graphel Musamba, has commended IK Charitable Trust for donating a solar-powered water pump to Roadways Police Post in John Laing of Kanyama Constituency.

Mr Musamba, who was represented by Kanyama Police Station Officer in Charge, Superintendent Clarence Mpande, described the gesture as a major boost to service delivery and community welfare.

 Speaking during the handover ceremony, Mr Musamba said the donation will significantly improve access to clean and reliable water for officers at the post and the surrounding community in the constituency.

Mr Musamba added that the solar-powered water pump is more than just equipment, describing it as a lifeline that will enhance both living and working conditions at the police post.

He said the donation is an important milestone in strengthening partnerships between the Police and cooperating organisations committed to community development.

Speaking at the same event, IK Charitable Trust, Administration Manager, Mohammed Lambat, said the donation is part of the organisation’s Water and Sanitation Aid Facility, which focuses on improving basic services in vulnerable communities.

Mr Lambat said access to clean and reliable water is not a luxury but a necessity, as it supports health, prevents disease and enables institutions such as police posts to operate effectively and serve the public with dignity.

He explained that the donation includes a newly drilled borehole up to a depth of 20 metres, a solar-powered pumping system with panels, a storage tank, borehole-to-tank piping, double garden taps, renovated toilet plumbing facilities and office furniture.

Mr Lambat noted that the intervention is intended not only to improve water and sanitation but also to enhance the working conditions of officers stationed at the post, as well as members of the public who access services there.

He commended the leadership and officers at the Roadways Police Post for their cooperation, which he said made the project possible.

Northern Province Education Officer, Mulambwa Nawa has praised government and its partners for the collective efforts in promoting a culture of hard work and producing better results in the province.

This follows the latest ranking where the province came out third in the national examinations with 74.04 pass rate in the 2025 grade 12 examinations, an upgrade from the seventh position recorded last year with a 64.74 pass rate.

Mr Nawa, has congratulated teachers for their dedication, which led to a notable improvement in the 2025 grade 12 performance.

speaking in an interview, Mr Nawa said the consistency of good performance across the three examination levels is an indication of the good approach put in place.

“Results have been impressive, and they cannot be attributed to one person. We want to thank our teachers, DEBs offices, provincial administration and the learners themselves for the effort put in to perform well in the exams.

“The good performance at grades 7, 9 and 12 is as a result of the good approach by our staff,” he said.

The Provincial Education Officer also attributed the high level of performance to the policies that the government has put in place to improve the education sector.

He further revealed that the province has bought and rehabilitated over seventy thousand desks in schools, creating a conducive learning environment for learners.

Mr Nawa added that the government is also constructing eight secondary schools under the Zambia Enhanced Education Project (ZEEP) and thirty-two Zambia Enhancing Early Learning (ZEAL) Schools and has also rehabilitated over 200 classroom blocks, providing more accommodation space for learners.

“Free education has  lifted the burden from parents and learners, lessening the pressure for school fees, so good policies are the ones bringing good performance and also a good learning environment,” he noted.

Mr Nawa has also called for continued collaboration among stakeholders for a successful 2026 academic year.