ZAMBIA: TORTURE/ZNBC/30/1/19 SABANews 1
ZAMBEZI – A man allegedly arrested on suspicions of possessing a firearm illegally has died in police custody in the North-western ZAMBIA district of ZAMBEZI.
The Acting Police Inspector General says the force will carry out an inquiry to determine what could have led to the death of the suspect at the ZAMBEZI Correctional Facility.
EUGENE SIBOTE says they plan to send a team of officers and a pathologist to the district to conduct a post mortem and find out what led to the burning of a police vehicle as well.
He has revealed the development to ZNBC News in the capital, LUSAKA, saying the incident occurred after officers allegedly tortured the man to death after accusing of illegally possessing a gun.
The national broadcaster also says yesterday, a mob of residents of ZAMBEZI District burnt a police vehicle and destroyed the district hospital mortuary.
It says the provincial leadership of the ruling PATRIOTIC FRONT Party has condemned the events, describing them as retrogressive and unfortunate.
Provincial Chairperson JACKSON KUNGO says the actions, which led to loss of life and damage of property could have been avoided.
He has called on both the security officers and members of the public to exercise restraint in their engagements.
The ZAMBIAN politician says authorities should bring to book the police officer who killed the suspect and arrest the people involved in vandalizing government property once they are identified./Sabanews/cam