. Hamoonga
By MELBOURNE MUSHITU –
A POLICE officer in Lusaka was yesterday shot dead during in a broad daylight robbery in which some criminals snatched K200,000 from a cash transiting vehicle belonging to Petroda Limited.
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said the incident happened in Rhodes Park between 09:00 hours and 10:00 hours.
Mr Hamoonga said the police officer together with others had accompanied Petroda employees who were collecting money from Petroda filling stations en-route to their head office within Lusaka.
He said the vehicle that was collecting cash was hit by a Toyota Noah after which the police officer got out of the vehicle to check what had happened.
“Whilst in a cash transit vehicle that was collecting cash from Petroda filling stations en-route to their head office in Lusaka, a Toyota Noah then approached the scene where one of the criminals shot Constable Pythias Ntukulika in the abdomen. He was rushed to Care for Business Hospital where he later died.
“We have since launched a manhunt for these criminals that snatched a sum of K200,000. As police, when you attack one of our police officers whilst on duty you have attacked the entire police,” he said.
Mr Hamoonga said the Toyota Noah that hit the cash transiting vehicle was reported stolen around 23:00 hours in Makeni area on Monday.
Meanwhile, the number of decomposed bodies discovered in an unfinished structure in Chalala residential area yesterday has increased to six.
The deceased have been identified as Albert Mwanza, Martha Mwanza (aged seven years), Leo Mwanza, aged four years, nine-month-old Blessing Mwanza, Brian Banda, 12, and Amos Banda, whose age has not yet been established.
Mr Hamoonga said the suspects in connection with the murder had been identified as Jenipher Mwansa, Albert Mwanza, Susan Chimfwembe and a girl aged 15.
Police have also disclosed that a total number of 224 road traffic accidents were recorded between July 31 and August 1 this year.
Mr Hamoonga said 12 people died compared to the 218 accidents with 28 deaths recorded during the same period in 2015.
“This represents an increase of six accidents but with a decrease in the number of deaths by 16, representing a 57 per cent reduction in the number of fatalities this year,” he said.
