By Staff Writer
An employee at the Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) has been apprehended in connection with the murder of a colleague and the arson incident that occurred at the CIDRZ offices in Ndola.
The arrest came following an extensive investigation, during which it was revealed that an employee was involved in these heinous acts. Copperbelt Police Commanding Officer, Peacewell Mweemba, identified the suspect as Bupe Sandukiya, 28, who worked as a cleaner at CIDRZ. Sandukiya admitted to committing the crimes, citing fear of imminent discovery.
Mweemba stated that Sandukiya’s motives for these acts stemmed from a previous incident in which he stole laptops from his employer. With an impending investigation into the laptop theft, he decided to destroy evidence by committing murder and arson.
According to the account provided by Mr. Mweemba, on November 4, 2023, at approximately 20:00, Sandukiya gained access to the office with the assistance of his victim, Mvula Arnold, who had produced an identity card for him. Sandukiya falsely claimed to be awaiting the arrival of NGO property from Lusaka.
However, within the office, Sandukiya lured the victim into the kitchen under the pretense of adding sugar to his coffee. It was there that he launched a vicious knife attack on his colleague. Arnold, though wounded, managed to fight back and injured Sandukiya in the process.
Undeterred, Sandukiya retrieved another knife and inflicted fatal injuries on his colleague. Following the gruesome act, he stole the company laptops and set the office ablaze, leaving Arnold’s lifeless body inside.
In a subsequent revelation, the suspect led officers to the recovery of nineteen stolen laptops, sixteen of which were found in his boarding house room, shared with students opposite Auther Davison Children’s Hospital, and three more were retrieved from Mayinza Musalisali, a student doctor residing near Peter Sigongo Police Camp in Ndola. The police also found clothing stained with blood, which Sandukiya wore on the day of the crime.
The CIDRZ officials have yet to provide an estimate of the value of property lost in the fire. The suspect will face appropriate charges once all investigations are completed.
