A Scramble for mealie meal at Ndola’s Mushili Market on Tuesday resulted in a fatal shooting by a police officer.
18-year-old Kennedy Zulu of Mushili Township was struck by a bullet during the commotion and later succumbed to his injuries.
Two other individuals, 15-year-old Abigail Kapasa and 22-year-old Levi Musonda, were also injured and were hospitalised.
According to reports, a crowd gathered around a truck carrying mealie meal owned by 33-year-old Chileshe Kafula as it arrived at the market.
Police officers went to investigate and confronted Kafula during the offloading process, leading to a chaotic situation from residents who wanted to take advantage of the situation.
Copperbelt Police Commissioner Peacewell Mweemba confirmed that officers fired warning shots to control the crowd, which had begun ransacking the mealie meal.
He identified the officer who fired the fatal shot as Inspector Sililo Inyambo, who has been arrested and is currently detained on murder charges.
Mweemba also confirmed the injuries sustained by Kapasa and Musonda. Kapasa was struck in the buttocks, while Musonda suffered gunshot wounds to his right thigh.
This incident is under investigation.
By Buumba Mwitumwa
Kalemba April 10, 2024
