. Munganga

By CATHERINE NYIRENDA and JULIUS PHIRI –
FIRE yesterday swept through Zanaco, Chipata branch, destroying millions of Kwacha in an inferno which started almost 14:30 hours.
By Press time, the cause of the fire was not yet known as some sources suspected that it started as a result of an electrical fault.
People watched helplessly as fire gutted the whole Zanaco building.
The fire brigade tried to quench the flames but fire continued raging until another fire tender from the Zambia Airforce was called in for reinforcement.
By 18:000 hours, the fire brigade from the Chipata fire engine was still struggling to put off the fire, which destroyed all the computers and automated teller machines (ATM) outside the bank.
There was panic in Chipata as customers banking with Zanaco tried to withdraw the little that they had in the ATM-Zanaco situated at Debonairs.
Eastern Province Deputy Police Commissioner Hudson Namachila said it was too early to know the extent of the damage until forensic assessment of the actual figure of the amount of money the fire
destroyed, including other items which were in the bank.
Meanwhile, police in Lusaka have arrested and charged eight people, among them, a bishop of a named church, for aggravated robbery for attacking a magistrate.
Police spokesperson Charity Munganga confirmed the arrest of the eight led by Bishop Exildah Chisenga Kayanda for attacking magistrate Nsunge  Chanda and her husband Robson Chanda. The incident happened on Thursday at SOS near Petroda filling station.
The group attacked the magistrate and her husband with machetes and stones over a piece of land in the area and, in the process, the victims sustained multiple injuries and had their K4,000 stolen from them.
“The suspects led by Jesus Soul Wining Bishop Exildah Chisenga Kayanda attacked the couple using pangas and stones after meeting at a plot located at SOS area in Lusaka, which they both claim ownership,” Ms Munganga said.