By ALICE NACHILEMBE
Police in Mwinilunga have charged and arrested 10 suspects for the alleged murder of headman Katoka.
Headman Albert Katoka 70 of Kabanda compound in Mwinilunga District of North-Western Province is alleged to have been murdered by a mob on suspicion of practicing witchcraft.
Deputy Police Spokesperson Danny Mwale confirmed the development that the suspects who are between 16 and 50 years have been arrested for the offense of murder.
Mr Mwale said he was murdered on November 17, 2022 around 11:00 hours at his house located within Kabanda Compound.
“Police investigations revealed that on November 15, 2022 a woman identified as Exhudah Kayenda 30, of Kabanda Township died after a short illness and it was alleged that some residents of Kabanda Township suspected the former headman to be behind her death.
“Immediately after burial on November 17, 2022, the mob went to the house of the headman Katoka where they demolished his house stoned him while others were hitting him with sticks,” he said.
He said police were alerted and managed to rescue the victim who was pronounced dead upon reaching Mwinilunga District Hospital.
Mr Mwale said Police instituted intensive investigations which led to the arrest of some of the perpetrators.
A manhunt for the other suspects has intensified.
