By JULIUS PHIRI –

TWO grade five pupils of Mphandika Primary School of Chief Msoro in Mambwe District have drowned in Lupande River in Eastern Province.

Chief Msoro of the Kunda Speaking People confirmed the deaths of Langiwe and Dumase Mwanza both aged 16 of Manokola village.

The two died on Sunday after being swept away by a heavy current in the flooded Lupande River.

Chief Msoro said the two girls went to swim in the river and drowned in the process.

“These girls went to the river which is closer to the village to swim but drowned in the process as the river was flooded,” he said.

Chief Msoro said the bodies of the girls had since been buried.

However, Eastern Province Police Commissioner Grace Chipalila said she was not aware of the incident.

And Police are still looking for a prisoner, James Bwalya who escaped from Chipata Prison after being jailed by Chipata magistrate Philip Mpundu to five years imprisonment with hard labour for breaking into a bank and stealing more than K400,000.

Bwalya was sentenced to five years imprisonment after being found guilty of breaking and stealing money from Stanbic Bank, Chipata Branch amounting to more than K418,609.

The Chipata magistrates’ court sentenced one of the six people charged with breaking into Stanbic Bank and stealing a laptop and money to five years imprisonment with hard labour.

Bwalya, of Masala area in Ndola, admitted having stolen the cash and a laptop valued at K3,800, and that he exited the bank through the roof.

It was alleged that on January 31, last year, Bwalya broke into Stanbic Bank Chipata office and stole one laptop and money, the property of Stanbic Bank Chipata.

Ms Chipalila said the convict was still eluding Police manhunt.