Rising cases of ritual murder in North-Western Province worry Police Chief

The police command says high murder cases involving ritual killings in North-Western Zambia is a source of concern.

Inspector general Lemmy Kajoba said in a statement by police deputy spokesperson Danny Mwale on Friday that the increase in the number of murder cases involving ritual killings known as Kikondo in North Western province was worrying.

Kajoba said the province had recorded nine cases of Kikondo between January ,2022 and January 2023 with only one arrest made so far.

Kajoba said is in North-Western province for a familiarization tour.

Police said all the recorded incidents involved elderly people aged between 60 and 90 who were alleged to have been behind the death of the person in their communities and that the practice was rampant in Solwezi.

Mr Kajoba further directed the moving of additional manpower paramilitary officers deployed in Zambezi to Solwezi and Kasempa in order to assist with the manhunt of the suspects who are currently on the run.

“The perpetrators including the relatives of the deceased abandon their villages immediately after practicing kikondo as they know that police will be looking for them,it is further alleged that the mob in the villages where these crimes occur join in by beating the victims with various weapons once identified by the ‘moving coffin,” he said.

The police Chief also cautioned and reminded officers that the government was elected under the back drop of rule of law which respects human rights.

He said the Zambia Police should ensure that the policy directive by the President is fulfilled.

“We cannot afford to see the degeneration of security situation in some parts of the country were people are brutally murdered on mere accusations of practicing witchcraft,” Kajoba said.

He observed that despite problems of long distances where these crimes occur, compounded by the lack of Police transport, efforts should be made at all costs of ensuring that culprits are held accountable of their actions as this will send a strong message to deter this primitive and inhuman practice by the people.