Police in Lusaka, Zambia, have charged and detained two people for the offense of Assault on a Police Officer: Monday Kapobe, age 40, of Garden Compound, and Trust Musonda, age 27, of Mandevu Compound.
A traffic police officer who was on duty at the intersection of Freedom Way and Kalambo Road in Lusaka’s Central Business District is said to have been beaten by the two suspects, a driver and a conductor, who were both wearing United Party for National Development clothing (CBD).
According to police deputy spokeswoman Danny Mwale, the incident took place on November 24, 2022, at about 9:20 a.m.
He said that early investigations show a Toyota Haice minibus with the registration number ABV 2328 was picking up passengers at undesignated bus stops along Freedom Way while the Traffic Police officer and other officers were conducting motorized patrols in the CBD.
“The bus was intercepted and impounded. along the way to the Police Station near Zambia Revenue Authority offices. The minibus driver decided to disobey the officer’s directives and drove towards Lumumba bus station.
Upon noticing that the minibus driver was going in another direction, the officer who was on board of the impounded minibus ,managed to pull the steering wheel to the left side of the road where the vehicle eventually parked,” he said.
According to Mr. Mwale, the driver turned off the vehicle’s motor and called in some “co-boys,” who then began tormenting the cop.
Only his fellow traffic officers who hurried to the scene, according to him, were able to save the traffic officer.
The accused, according to Mr. Mwale, are being held by the police and will be in court on Monday, November 28, 2022.
