A police criminal Investigations officer in Kasempa District of North-Western Province has been found dead at his residence in a suspected murder case.

The development was confirmed by North-Western Province Police Commissioner Brighton Siwale, who identified the deceased as Friday Mulauzi aged 38.

Mr Siwale confirmed the incident in a statement to the Zambia News and Information Service (ZANIS) in Kasempa District today.

He said the Kasempa Police Station recorded a case of murder, which was believed to have occurred between January 6, 2026 around 21:00 hours and January 7, 2026 around 05:00 hours.

“The matter was reported on January 7, 2026 around 05:30 hours by Mr Emmanuel Koloko aged 25, a neighbour to the deceased of Small-Mayard area, who reported that his neighbour was found lying unconscious and lifeless on the corridor of his house,” Mr Siwale added.

He explained that the deceased was until his death serving as a Criminal Investigations Officer at Kasempa Police Station.

Mr Siwale disclosed that brief facts indicated that on January 6, 2026 around 21:00 hours, the deceased was drinking at Breaking-Point Night Club in Kasempa Boma with his colleagues before returning home.

He added that on January 7, 2026 around 06:00 hours, an unknown woman who was passing by the deceased’s house noticed him lying unconscious on the ground and later alerted the deceased’s landlord’s son, who subsequently reported the matter to police.

Mr Siwale further disclosed that police officers rushed to the scene and found the body facing upwards in a pool of blood about a metre away from the door to the house, with the keys to the house lying on the ground.

“Upon physical inspection of the body, a deep cut was observed on the left upper side of the chest with intestines protruding, and it is suspected that an unknown sharp object was used in the act,” he said.

Mr Siwale further disclosed that the deceased’s motor vehicle was found parked beside his house, while the car keys were discovered in the right pocket of his coat.

He added that the body was later retrieved from the scene and deposited at Mukinge Mission Hospital Mortuary, where it was being kept awaiting postmortem examination.

Mr Siwale said a docket of murder had been opened and investigations had since been instituted, adding that no arrests had been made so far.

He appealed to members of the public with information that may lead to the arrest of the perpetrators to come forward and assist the police.

Central Province Minister Mwabashike Nkulukusa has directed Councils in the province to start working on feeder roads following the procurement of earth moving equipment using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Mr Nkulukusa expressed sadness that most of the Councils were not working on feeder roads despite being equipped with earth moving equipment and fuel for their operations.

He said the provincial administration will not entertain further excuses from the Local Authorities for failing to work on feeder roads in their respective districts.

Mr Nkulukusa, who made a directive when he featured on KNC’s One-on-One Radio programme, said government spent a lot of money to procure the earth moving equipment for all the 11 Councils.

He stated that government went further to provide money for fuel for the machines under the CDF component.

“The yellow machines should start working on the feeder roads in all the 11 districts. Government has done its part by providing the Councils with fuel,” Mr Nkulukusa said.

He emphasized that government will this year work towards improving the road network to meet the aspirations of the people.

Meanwhile, Mr Nkulukusa assured the people of Central Province that government remains committed to upgrading some of township roads to bituminous standard.

He disclosed that the road upgrade project will start with Kabwe, Chibombo, Chisamba and Kapiri Mposhi Districts.

He said 40 kilometres of roads in Kabwe will be upgraded to bituminous standard with Kapiri Mposhi allocated 20 kilometres while Chibombo and Chisamba have been allocated 15 kilometres and 10 kilometres respectively.

A 25-year-old woman in Milenge District in Luapula Province has allegedly been beaten to death by her husband.

The deceased identified as Alice Lungu of Talayi Village in Chief Sokontwe’s Chiefdom allegedly died from a suspected case of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

Attending the funeral of the deceased, Milenge District Commissioner Kayula Mulenga called on the community to report cases of GBV and cautioned against dismissing abuse as a family or cultural matter.

The media reports that Mr Mulenga urged victims not be discouraged from speaking out under the pretext of protecting family image.

“When victims come out to report, they should not be reprimanded or told that they are embarrassing the family, let’s not encourage GBV,” Mr Mulenga said.

Mr Mulenga stressed that all forms of GBV must be reported to relevant authorities, warning that violence has far-reaching consequences, especially for children who are left to suffer when one parent is killed and the other is arrested.

And Chief Sokontwe has advised women to stop keeping quiet when they are being abused in their homes.

Speaking through his representative, Headman Orlando, Chief Sokontwe also advised men to reduce alcohol consumption, which he described as a major contributor to GBV incidents.

The traditional leader called for prompt reporting of GBV cases to police or One-Stop Centres, adding that early reporting can prevent loss of life.

Meanwhile, a community member close to the family of the deceased, Winfredah Kunda, said the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault remained unclear, adding that the family was still struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss.

Ms. Kunda disclosed that postmortem results revealed that the deceased sustained severe internal injuries

Mpika Town Council Senior Health Inspector Francis Kapila says the local authority has commenced conducting restaurant compliance inspection on the hygiene practice around Mpika town.

Mr. Kapika said that the local authority was inspecting all food handlers across the district in order to prevent the outbreak of cholera and other waterborne diseases during the rainy season.

He was speaking when he visited the restaurants located at Mpika bus station.

Mr Kapila stated that the restaurants that were not adhering with hygiene practice will cease operations.

He said that during the rainy season the local authority intensifies inspections compared to their daily routine inspections.

‘’As health inspectors we collaborate with the council police in order to carry out these activities around the entire district, as this activity is not only meant for the Central Business District,” he said.

Mr Kapila stated that out of the 20 restaurants inspected at least 7 were closed down for non-compliance with required hygiene practices.

‘’We are not only looking at the surroundings but also if their restaurants have adequate water, hand washing liquid and also personal hygiene is vital in their area of work as they are dealing with so many customers,’’ he said.

He further disclosed that in 2025 the local authority organised a food handler training which was successful adding that most of the trained restaurant owners complied.

And Emma Chali one of the restaurant owner said keeping the surroundings clean was very vital as it helped prevent diseases like cholera, diarrhea, typhoid and dysentery.

Ms. Chali said that restaurant workers must always cover their heads with hair nets and also dress appropriately during working hours as a way to protect their customers from consuming dirty food.

‘’We should also dispose off our bins so that we avoid flies and maggots wash our aprons and provide our customers with hand wash to keep a clean environment,” she said.

And another restaurant owner Flevia Mutale said that food handlers must handle food with a lot of care as customers may fall sick due to dirty environment.

Ms. Mutale appealed to her counterparts to always keep their surroundings tidy at all times.

Meanwhile, Mpika District Commissioner David Siame commended the local authority for the on-going health inspection in the district.

Mr. Siame said the objective of the inspection was to make sure that public health standards were maintained adding that the act was in accordance with the public health act.

He said that food handlers must adhere to public health regulations as a way to avoid the outbreak of different diarrhea diseases.

‘’This is not only for restaurant owners but also butcheries and other food handlers because we do not want a situation where hospitals are packed with sick people,’’ he said.

He further said that especially that Mpika was one of fastest growing population, the local authority must conduct the inspections regularly adding that Mpika residents must also keep their homes clean at all times.