By MILDRED KATONGO  –
A WOMAN has been gang-raped, tied to a tree and murdered in another barbaric act that has raised alarm and condemnation from stakeholders.
Memory Lungu aged 30, of Chama’s Makeni Village, went missing on Saturday, only to be found lifeless and tied to a tree after a search.
Her body had bruises leaving bloodstains on her clothes.
“The deceased was discovered with bruises on her body and blood stains on her clothes. She was tied to a tree using fibre. She had blood stains on her face, which prompted the officers to check her private parts, where semen was found,” Muchinga Police Commissioner Godwin Phiri said.
Mr Phiri said the deceased was taken to the hospital for semen swabbing and other medical examinations to ascertain the cause of death.
He said there were signs of struggle as a piece of belt was found at the crime scene.
Mr Phiri urged members of the community to complement efforts of the police by ensuring there was protection of life and property and join Community Crime Prevention Units (CCPU) which had been set up.
He said Chama District had less than 30 officers, and that if crime was to be prevented, community members should come in and help.
Police were hunting for the unknown killers.
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) condemned the brutal murder of Ms Lungu, calling for a quick but thorough investigation to bring the culprits to face justice.
HRC spokesperson Mweelwa Muleya said the act was saddening and grave and that it was a violation of the rights of the woman.
“The act is aggravated gender-based violence (GBV). We condemn this barbaric act and we hope the police will investigate the matter and bring to book the perpetrators. The act is a violation of human rights and should be condemned,” Mr Muleya said.
The Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) was also saddened by the murder, saying that it left women living in fear.
YWCA Copperbelt coordinator Sharon Chisanga said it was saddening to note that women’s lives were endangered by other citizens with evil intentions in society.
Ms Chisanga also condemned the open market for selling beer, a move she described was influencing bad behaviour among the young people.
She said there was a loose usage of drugs and alcohol among the youth, which resulted in them engaging misconduct.
Ms Chisanga appealed to the Government to put in place a policy to control the sale of alcohol and other substances.
“It is a sad incident that our women are dying in such acts. I can assure you that such activities are as a result of young people being under the influence of drugs and alcohol. There is an open market for beer in this country and that is a problem. There is a need to have a policy in place to curb such activities,” she said.