By MAYA NTANDA and REBECCA MUSHOTA –

A FARMER of Kabompo District in North-Western Province has been arrested for brutally axing his friend to death during a drinking spree.
North-Western Province Police commissioner Eugene Sibote said Kenneth Konde was arrested after he allegedly axed his friend over unknown differences.
Mr Sibote said the incident happened on Monday at Kayambila village in Senior Chief Sikufele’s area.
He named the deceased as Kazhila Kayombo 36, who died after being axed.
Mr Sibote said the deceased sustained deep cuts on the chest, neck and back.
He said after he axed his friend, Konde ran into the nearby bush but was caught by a mob which beat him up before police officers apprehended him.
Konde is in police custody at Kabompo Police station.
Meanwhile, four police officers have been apprehended and detained in Ndola in connection with theft of electric cables at Dangote Industries Limited in Masaiti.
The four were apprehended atthe weekend to help with investigations into the theft of electric cables at Dangote.
Dangote Industries Zambia Limited is a US$450 million cement manufacturing plant which is under construction and is expected to start operations next month.
Copperbelt Commissioner of Police Joyce Kasosa confirmed the arrest of the police officers in an interview yesterday.
Ms Kasosa said the four officers had not been charged yet but were in custody to help with investigations.
“They are still detained to help with investigations of a theft that happened at Dangote,” she said.