– Kalomo police nab counterfeit note dealers

—–Police in Kalomo are holding two suspects for being found with K50 counterfeit notes amounting to KR500.

Local police sources confirmed the development to ZANIS in Kalomo but referred all queries to Southern Province Police Commissioner, Charity Katanga who could not be reached for a comment by press time.

 

The named suspects were nabbed after a tip off from members of the public when they tried to transact the fake money at one of the local business outlets in the township.

The suspects are yet to appear in court for being in possession of counterfeit notes.

Meanwhile, court sessions have been temporarily suspended at the Kalomo subordinate court as Police are unable to transport remandees from the local state prison which is located at the Boma, 5 kilo metres away from town due to the closure of the Sichikwenkwe bridge that links the area to the township.

 

The bridge has been closed for rehabilitation works by the Road Development Agency (RDA).

 

The closure of the only link infrastructure has also affected people trying to get national registration cards at the Boma offices where the NRC offices are located at the district administration block.

 

And scores of local energetic youth have taken advantage of the closure of the bridge by carrying people and ferrying their luggage on their backs at a cost ranging between K2.00 per person and K10.00. per person to cross the Sichikwenkwe river which has been flooded due to heavy rain downpours.

 

A check by ZANIS found several motorists and pedestrians stranded at either side of the detour and described the rehabilitation works being undertaken   during the rainy season as inappropriate.

 

 

However, RDA technician in charge at the site, Thomas Lubinda, said his team was doing its best and may lay the reinforcement slab on the bridge within the next few days and allow pedestrians to cross over while motorists have to wait for about two to three weeks for the concrete to solidify.

Mr Lubinda, who sympathized with what he saw over women and school children being carried on people’s backs, said a pedestrian leeway may be opened after putting the concrete slab on the rails to avert any possible drowning of those who want to cross the river.

 

The rehabilitation works of the bridge has been necessitated by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) under the office of the Vice President with a funding of KR185,000.