Cop in choma shoots a 32 year old Man on new years eve

POLICE in Choma have shot dead a 32 year old
man of Kamunza compound while wounding the
other during the Police Patrol exercise
conducted around the early hours of  yesterday.
The dual met their fate during their year- end
celebrations at a local bottle store as they
hoped to welcome the New Year with joy and
splendour.
Southern province Commissioner of Police
Charity Katanga who confirmed the incidence to
ZANIS in Choma on wednesday identified the deceased
as Claris Muleya 32 of Kamunza compound and
the wounded as Lwendo Mutukula also 32 of the
same area.
Ms Katanga said the incident which occurred at
Vinthu Mufumbenge bottle store this Morning
involved a Police officer identified as Paul
Nabuzoka 21, a constable by rank who was been
driven by a fellow Police officer in a blue Toyota
land Cruiser registration number ZP225B.
“I wish to confirm the shooting incident
involving the police which occurred in the early
hours of today first January 2014 in Kamunza
Compound in Choma district. Details of the
matter are that Claris Muleya 32 of Kamunza
compound was shot on the leg around 01:00
hours near a named bottle store and later died.
The Police received the report from members of
the public this morning and rushed to the scene
where the body of the deceased was picked and
is currently lying in Choma general Hospital
Mortuary”, she said.
Ms Katanga noted that Lwendo Mutukula who
was shot on the left arm was currently admitted
to Choma general hospital and his condition was
stable.
She said Constable Paul Nabuzoka who had
been involved in the shooting had since been
detained at Choma Police station and charged
with murder to help Police with further
investigations.
Ms Katanga described the occurrence as
unfortunate stating that the Police were
expected to work professionally at all times.
Ms Katanga charged that no one was above the
law and that the law would take its course on
the matter to ensure that the culprit was
brought to book whose action resulted into loss
of life.
“As Police we are mandated to protect the
members of the public, people should find safety
around the Police, it is indeed unfortunate that
this has happened especially now that people
are celebrating the New Year,” she said.
She said Police had recorded various statements
from the members of the public and should the
Police officer be found wanting the Police would
ensure that he faces the wrath of the law.
Meanwhile Southern Province Minister Daniel
Munkombwe who visited the wounded victim
Lwendo Mutukula at his hospital bed this
morning said government was not happy with
the action taken by the Police officer.
Mr Mukombwe said the shooting incidence was
unfortunate and called on the Police to quickly
establish the cause of the incident.
“I deeply regret the shooting of the two people
that have happened on New Year’s Day when
people are celebrating. It is gives the district
and the province in particular a sad way of
starting the new year. This shooting regardless
of who has done it is uncalled for and especially
that it has been committed by the Police it is
highly regrettable,” he said.
And Mr Mutukula, a surviving shooting victim
who struggled to speak on his hospital bed told
the Mr Munkombwe that he was shot on the
door step of his house when he tried to respond
to a knock by the Police officer whom he
thought was his wife.
“I went home from a drinking spree after
midnight and found my wife away from home,
after some time I heard a Knock from the door
and I woke up to open thinking it was my wife
only to receive a gun shot on my left arm and I
fell on the floor”, he narrated.
The Minister however sent his message of
condolences to the affected families as he called
for peace and unity during this difficult time.
Speaking earlier Patriotic Front Kamunza ward
Chairperson Allan Chembe said the people of
Kamunza Compound want justice to prevail.
Mr Chembe said Kamunza compound was a
peaceful community that does not warrant hush
treatment from the Police.
“How does the Police follow people in their
drinking places, in their homes and claim their
lives. The victims did not commit any offence to
merit death or wounds, as PF ward Chairperson
I will work hard to ensure that the victims who
are my subjects get justice on the matter. The
Police who are mandated to protect us the
citizens, how do they begin to kill us for
nothing. The people of Kamunza compound
want nothing less than that the law should take
its course for justice to be done,” he said
Mr Chembe said it would have been better for
the Police to arrest the victims had they been
found wanting than to target at their lives.
He said the deceased was a family head who has
left behind many dependants who were looking
up to him for their survival.
The deceased who died after heavy bleeding
from a gunshot sustained injury on his left leg
was survived by a wife and four children.
However, Commissioner of Police Charity
Katanga said despite the shooting incidence the
general situation in the province during the eve
celebrations was relatively quiet except for
Livingstone where Police officers apprehended
69 people between the ages of 16 to 45 years
with cases ranging from idle and disorder likely
to cause a breach of peace and assault