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Police in Lusaka have arrested a woman from Garden Compound and her four children in connection with the murder of her husband, whose body had been kept in their home for two years.
According to Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, the arrest of Sylvia Kalaba and her children followed a report made by the deceased’s brother, Emmanuel Kalaba, aged 55, of House Number 1295 Chelstone Extension.
Hamoonga stated in a press release on Wednesday that Emmanuel had informed the police that his brother’s wife, Sylvia Kalaba, had repeatedly denied him and other family members access to George Kalaba, the deceased.
Between July 2023 and January 2025, Sylvia had refused the family’s attempts to visit her husband.
“The Zambia Police Service, through Garden Police Post, is investigating a shocking murder reported today, January 14, 2025, at approximately 16:30 hours,” Hamoonga said.
Emmanuel’s concerns intensified when he visited the residence on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at around 06:00 hours. Upon arriving, he found the house locked, with Sylvia and her children inside.
After speaking with a tenant, Emmanuel learned that George had not been seen for over two years, and Sylvia had actively prevented anyone from visiting him.
Acting on this information, police officers proceeded to the scene.
“Upon gaining entry, they made a gruesome discovery: the remains of Mr. George Kalaba were found lying on a bed, reduced to a skeleton, suggesting he had been dead for a significant period,” Hamoonga confirmed.
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The police found Sylvia, aged 51, and her children—Natasha Kalaba (19), Sandra Kalaba (22), Wendi Kalaba (27), and a 15-year-old juvenile—inside the house, and they had locked themselves in.
All five have been taken into custody to assist with ongoing investigations.
“The skeletal remains of George Kalaba have been collected and deposited at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Mortuary, where a postmortem will be conducted on January 15, 2025, to determine the cause of death,” Hamoonga added.
A docket has been opened, and investigations are ongoing.
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