Farm workers thwart robbery

PETER MALASHA writes A BUSINESSMAN and some farm workers in Mkushi put up a spirited fight to track down bandits, who had snatched a vehicle which they used in a robbery. The six bandits grabbed a Toyota Hiace bus from a businessman, Edward Machaya in Kapiri Mposhi and drove it to Mkushi where they staged yet another robbery at a farm. They hauled 20 bags of fertilizer valued at K12, 360 from Mkushi’sSheply Farm after beating up and tying one of the two guards on duty with a cloth on the mouth and abandoned him on the road.  The other security guard had escaped. Central province police commissioner, Chola Katanga, confirmed the robbery which happened between 22:00 and 24:00 hours on Monday. He said the bandits who were driving a Furn Cargo had snatched a Toyota Hiace in Kapiri. The six criminals then stormed Sheply Farm in Mkushi and attacked two guards on duty, identified as Alfred Bwalya and Richard Katongola. Mr Katanga explained that said during the robbery,  one of the guards Mr Bwalya was beaten up and tied with a cloth on the mouth and abandoned him on the road. He said after the attack, the criminals stole 20 x 50kgs bags fertilizer valued at K12, 360 which was in the warehouse at the farm.  However, the farm manager identified as Elias Zimba, together with other workers pursued the bandits. In the process, they met Mr Machaya 38, of Lubuto area who told them confirmed to them that the same criminals with the Furn Cargo had also stolen his Toyota Hiace registration number ALH 6890 valued at K60, 000 from his driver Abiud Chendo. Mr Katanga said they then teamed up to search for the criminals and managed to find them in Kapiri-Mposhi’s Lubuto area. When the criminals realised they were being pursued, they attempted to flee, but Mr Machaya who was armed with a pistol shot one of the suspects Bowas Lisondo 42, of Mkushi’s Mubalashi area on the left thigh. The other suspect Adronic Mulungwe 31, of Kabushi in Ndola was also apprehended while the other four suspects bolted. Mr. Katanga said the shot suspect was rushed to Mkushi District Hospital where he was admitted and the condition was said to be stable while the other one was detained at Mkushi police station. “10 bags of the fertiliser was recovered while the Furn Cargo and the other 10 bags were recovered just at a farm,” Mr Katanga said. The Toyota Hiace was also recovered. The Sun