A Five-year year old female child has died of gunshot wounds inflicted by Chinese investors who were testing their firearms in an undisignated area.
Police assistant public relations officer Godfrey Chilabi said the incident happened on Wednesday last week at around 09:00 hours, at Jifumpa Primary School Teachers’ Compound.
Chilabi stated that the slain child was a daughter of a 30 year old teacher, Bornface Mutumbwe and she was struck in the head by a stray bullet while standing in a grass thatched shelter.
He revealed that the little girl was rushed to Jifumpa Rural Health Centre and later referred to Mukinge Mission Hospital, where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
And North Western Province police commissioner Brighton Siwale said preliminary investigations also revealed that the suspects identified as 44 year old Zheng Chencheng, armed with a 9mm Taurus pistol and 48 year old Wan Rong Gen, with a .45mm Sig Sauer P320 were reportedly testing their firearms at the Ruida Investment mine site, about 100 metres from the school, when one of the bullets hit the child.
“On the material day, the two suspects were testing their firearms, a 9mm Taurus pistol and a .45mm Sig Sauer P320 and shooting in the southern direction, which faces the school,” said Siwale.
“In the process, a bullet struck the victim on the head while she was standing in a grass-thatched shelter in the teachers’ compound.”
Siwale said the deceased sustained a severe gunshot wound, with the projectile entering on the left side of her head and exiting on the right.
“The bullet was recovered at the scene after it fell to the ground following exit,” he explained.
Witnesses said the child collapsed instantly and she was rushed to Jifumpa Rural Health Centre and later referred to Mukinge Mission Hospital, but she died en route around 11:50 hours in Mbulumuneni area.
When officers visited the scene, they confirmed the shooting distance from the mine site to the shelter was about 100 metres and a pool of blood was found where the child had fallen.
Police say the two pistols used in the incident were recovered and that before firing, Chencheng reportedly had 57 rounds of ammunition but was left with 49 and three empty magazines while Gen had 27 rounds but was left with 18 and two empty magazines.
Police have recovered the two pistols, ammunition and magazines for ballistic examinations.
Chilabi said both suspects are in custody as investigations continue.
“The body of the deceased is in Mukinge Mission Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem examination,” he disclosed.
Meanwhile, suspicious locals fear that two suspects may get away with murder on account of their financial muscle.
They have called on authorities to ensure justice for the slain child.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, August 11, 2025
