5 nabbed over ‘moving coffin’ deaths

POLICE in Solwezi have arrested five people in connection with the death of four people who they claimed were killed by a moving coffin locally known as kikondo.
North-Western Province deputy commissioner of police Geoffrey Kunda confirmed the arrest of the five in an interview yesterday.
Mr Kunda said the incident happened between September 29 and October 1, this year, in Senior Mujimanzovu’s area in Solwezi.
Mr Kunda identified the deceased as Ronai Kalobahva, 60, Yase Kalenga,75, Steven Kang’ombe, 83, and Simon Shikasosa, 80.
“We got a report that two female elderly persons aged 60 and 75 and two elderly male persons aged 80 and 83 were murdered using a ‘moving coffin’ called kikondo,” he said.

Mr Kaunda said the four were attacked for allegedly bewitching a 24-year-old woman. However, he said information before police indicates that the woman died after an unsuccessful abortion of a five-month pregnancy.
He said the five suspects were pall-bearers and they used the deceased woman’s coffin to allegedly kill their victims.
Mr Kunda said three of the deceased have since been buried, while one body is still lying in the Solwezi General Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem.
Investigations into the matter have continued and police are yet to decide their next course of action against the suspects.

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