By SYLVIA MWEETWA –
THE wife of a police officer outside whose house a dead two-metre long python was found two months ago has died.
Mary Machuta died las week in Kabwe General Hospital after a short illness.
Meanwhile, Kabwe District Commissioner (DC) Patrick Chishala has described the death of Ms Machuta as devastating.
Mr Chishala said he was saddened with the recent happenings in Kabwe where a baby coffin was also recently discovered with a paper wrapped around it with a list of people’s names on it.
All incidents have been happening in Chowa Township.
Mr Chishala, who was speaking during the burial of Ms Machuta, advised the mourners against speculations over what had happened to the Cosmas Banda family but that people should instead turn to God for comfort.
He urged asked the clergy in Kabwe to rise up to the challenge and pray for the district following a recent spate of strange happenings which had brought fear and raised a lot of questions among members of the community.
In March this year residents of Chowa police camp woke up to a rude shock after a monstrous two-metre dead python was found lying in Mr Banda’s yard.
Mr Banda is the police officer-in-charge at Prospect Police Station,
but his family was shocked when the snake, with a K500 old note tied around it, was dumped by his gate by unknown people.
The news of the strange discovery quickly spread round Kabwe town like wildfire, prompting hundreds of curious residents to  troop to Mr Banda’s residence to have a glimpse of the mysterious serpent.
Besides the K500 note in old currency, the serpent had white beads on its belly as well as decaying bones of an unknown rodent.
In Kabwe, like many areas in Zambia, many people believe in centuries-old superstition, including black magic, which they feel could boost their businesses or settle old scores with their rivals.
Concerned with the recent happenings, however, Mr Chishala said it was clear that Kabwe District was in need of prayers.
Mr Chishala also appealed to the police to thoroughly investigate and establish who was behind the killing of the python which was later dumped outside Mr Banda’s house.