ZAWA guards kill suspected poacher

ZAWA guards kill suspected poacher

Chinsali, November 28, 2014, ZANIS…A suspected poacher of Chief Chiunda Ponde’s Chiefdom in Mpika District of Muchinga Province has been allegedly beaten to death by Zambia Wild Life Authority (ZAWA) officers.

And a 52 –year- old man of Isoka district has been allegedly murdered by a friend.

Muchinga Province Deputy Police Commissioner Bonny Kapeso has confirmed the two incidents to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Chinsali today.

Mr. Kapeso said Godfrey Kunda who is in his early 30’s of Tumeyo Village died in the Mpika District hospital after allegedly being beaten by ZAWA officers in Bangweulu Game Management Area.

Mr. Kapeso said irate villagers then ascended on the ZAWA scout beating them up and grabbed an AK 47 assault rifle with 26 rounds of ammunition.

The villagers are also reported to have grabbed one GPS campus, two pairs of ZAWA uniforms and 2 pairs of handcuffs.

Mr. Kapeso added that the angry mob of villagers beat up the two ZAWA village scouts because they suspected them to have tipped the ZAWA officers about the suspected poacher who was later allegedly beaten to death by ZAWA officers.

The two ZAWA scouts are currently battling for their lives in Chilonga Hospital.

He said that this occurred between 14:00 hours on Wednesday November 26 and 16:00 hours on Thursday November 27.

Mr. Kapeso said no arrests have been made so far adding that all the items grabbed from the ZAWA officers have also not yet been recovered.

Mr Kapeso has since warned members of the public to desist from taking the law into their own hands.

Meanwhile, a 52 year old man of Kafwimbi village in Isoka has died after being beaten with a pluck by his friend.

Mr. Kapeso has confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Bright Siwila who sustained a fractured left rib and died at Isoka District Hospital.

Mr. Kapeso said the suspected is on the run and police have since launched a man hunt.