Serenje Police arrest culvert criminals

Serenje Police arrest culvert criminals

Serenje,  26  November, 2014……………..Police in Serenje district have arrested two peasant farmers for allegedly stealing culverts on the Great North road.

John Tembo and Mwape Mupeta both aged 40 years old and peasant farmers of Teta area were arrested on Monday for allegedly stealing the road channels.

Central Province Police Commissioner Standwell Lungu has confirmed the arrest of the duo to ZANIS in Serenje in a telephone interview today.

Mr Lungu said Police made the arrest after a tip-off from members of the community and recovered culverts and hoes suspected to have been made from materials from the culverts.

The Central Province Police Commissioner warned that police was on alert and would arrest and prosecute anyone found wanting.

And Chief Kabamba of the Lala people of Serenje district has called on government to stiffen the law to deter people from vandalising state installations.

“It is disappointing that these people who are caught stealing public property are not given stiffer punishment which can serve as a deterrent measure,” Chief Kabamba said.

In May, the Serenje Magistrate court sentenced 56 year old Phanwell Musonda of Mbaswa area in Serenje District to two years imprisonment with hard Labour for stealing road guard rails at Kafunda Flyover bridge on the Great North road.

And Mr Lungu said Mupeta and Tembo who are in Police custody will appear in court soon.