Zambia News

2 people die and several are hurt during “chikondo”

After another man's strange death, two people die and several are hurt during "chikondo"

Police in North-Western Province’s Mushindamo District have noted two murders and three assaults related to attacks by a supernatural moving coffin known as Chikondo.

According to police spokesman Danny Mwale, the event happened on January 10, 2023, between 9:00 and 15:00 in the Kabunene neighborhood of Mushindamo District.

He claimed that when police were called, they hurried to the location and discovered three additional people suffering from significant wounds in addition to two people who were found unconscious on the ground.

The casualties, according to Mr. Mwale, were taken by ambulance to the hospital, where the two were pronounced dead upon arrival and the three injured people were taken in.

“’The deceased were identified as Muma Chewe aged 91of Muma village and Bestrong Mangala aged 78 of Masheke village while the injured victims were identified as Robson Chiputu aged 64 of Chiputu village, Kenneth Kipamina aged 62 of Kipamina village and Luckson Chensha aged 67 of Chikwaba village.

Police investigations revealed that on January 7, 2023, a man only identified as Mwelwa Malembe died after a short illness and on January 10, 2023, the community resorted to undertake ‘chikondo’ (magical moving coffin) so as to establish the people believed to be behind the death of the deceased,” he said.

According to Mr. Mwale, a moving coffin struck the deceased during the funeral procession.

It is also alleged that a mob participated by using kicks and sticks.The deceased sustained fatal injuries. The mob also attacked the three other victims and left them with serious wounds.

Relatives of Mwelwa Malembe together with others believed to have participated in the incident fled the village after burial on January 11, 2023. This was after they were tipped of Police presence in the area,” he said.

After opening dockets for murder and OABH assault, Mr. Mwale stated that a manhunt for the suspects had been commenced and investigations had been started.

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