Zambia: The Zambia Police Service acknowledges the concerns raised by the Human Rights Commission regarding the alleged torture and ill-treatment of a child offender.
Zambia Police said, “We will take these allegations seriously and will work to uphold the highest standard of professionalism.”
Zambia Police also launched an immediate investigation, and they also said, “If any police officer is found guilty, we will take disciplinary action against him/her.”
Furthermore, they continued by saying, “We reaffirm our dedication to respecting human rights, and we will take decisive measures to eradicate any instances of torture or mistreatment. We appreciate the Commission’s vigilance, and we are committed to restoring public confidence in our efforts to maintain law and order.”
The public may wish to note that police have arrested and charged the child offender, aged 14, and seven other persons with the offences of: Murder Contrary to Section 200 and Aggravated Robbery Contrary to Section 294 of the Penal Code Act, Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Police arrested them in connection with Peter Malama’s murder case. He was a taxi driver who was attacked by a group of persons commonly known as junkies.
The child offender is the young boy who obstructed the vehicle, leading to the sudden attack by a group of criminals, masked in black face masks who brandished machetes while others pelted the vehicle with stones.
Additionally, four of his passengers were also attacked by the attackers and robbed of their phones and other valuables.
The assailants, believed to be individuals commonly known as junkies, perpetrated the crime on January 31 at night around 11 pm in the Kalikiliki compound.
The Seven other suspects arrested together with the child offender have been identified as:
1. Joseph Kambombo, nicknamed “Tizo,” aged 20
2. Jacob Mwape, aged 20, nicknamed “Kamana Swag”
3. A juvenile aged 15,
4. Michael Tembo, aged 23, nicknamed “Boss B,” of Kalikiliki
5. Chisomo Mvula, nicknamed “Black Dollar,” aged 19, of Mutendere
6. A Juvenile aged 18, of Kalikiliki
7. A Juvenile aged 18, of Mutendere
All these suspects right now are under police custody and await their court appearance.