By 
Police in Lusaka have received a report of a mine accident in which three people died while two survived with injuries after a rock fell on them underground.
The incident occurred on Thursday, January 19, 2023 around 08:20 hours in Kasenga B area of Chongwe District.
The deceased have been identified as Shi who is a Chinese national aged 40, Bupe Malambo aged 21 and Robert Hawele aged 22 while Frank Tokolwe aged 26 and John Kasapato aged 22 survived the incident with injuries.
This is according to Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Danny Mwale who stated that the victims were all from Kasenga area in Chongwe District.
Read more: Police arrest 5 for land grabbing in Chongwe, 3 others for church break-in
“Police officers visited the scene and investigations revealed that today, January 19, 2023 around 07:00 hours, 24 miners were working underground the mine. The five victims were working separately at one section where they were extracting copper ore when a rock fell on them.
“The victims were rushed to Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospitals where the three were pronounced dead upon arrival. The two are admitted to the same Hospital where they are receiving treatment. Police have opened an Inquiry File into the matter,” Mwale said in a statement issued on Thursday in Lusaka.
Meanwhile, police in Lusaka apprehended 15 prohibited immigrants believed to be Ethiopians.
All the 15 suspects are detained in Police custody awaiting to be formally handed over to the Department of Immigration.
The suspects were apprehended in Kaunda Square Stage II around 01:00 hours.
Read more: UN agencies shocked by discovery of 27 dead bodies of Ethiopian nationals in Lusaka
Mwale explained that police officers manning Mono Police Check point along the Great East Road in Silverest area got suspicious after three mini buses passed them at high speed without stopping.
“Police officers pursued the mini buses and intercepted one mini bus, a Toyota Haice, bearing registration number AIB 4244 and fleet number 211065 off Simusokwe Road in Kaunda Square Stage II where they apprehended 13 suspects.
“After interrogations, it was discovered that the suspects were 20 in the mini bus and seven including the driver managed to escape immediately they noticed that they were being pursued by Police officers,” he said.
Mwale stated that police officers ‘combed’ the area in Kaunda Square and later apprehended two suspects around 02:30 hours.
He explained that initial investigations indicated that the suspects entered Zambia through Mwami Border.
A manhunt for the other suspects and two mini buses has been launched.
Comments