Chongwe woman nabbed…for suspected murder in love triangle

JOHN KOMBE writes @SunZambian A-51-year old woman of Chikondwa village in Chongwe District has been arrested for the suspected murder of a 41 year old man of the same village who was believed to be her lover. Zambia police spokesperson, Esther Katongo confirmed the development in a statement made available to the Sun. Ms Katongo named the suspect as Veronica Banda, 51 of the named village. She said that police were still looking for the other suspect, David Phiri, 38 of Mwantalasha village in Chongwe. Ms Katongo disclosed that the male suspect is believed to be a lover of the female suspect while the deceased was an ex-lover of the female suspect. She stated it is believed that the male suspect and the deceased were in conflict over the same woman. She earlier disclosed that the deceased, Friday Mutale, 41 was allegedly murdered on an unknown time and date, but between December 25 and the morning of the 27th. She revealed that the incident happened in Chiokondwa village in Chongwe. She said that police visited the scene after receiving a report and found the body in his house whose door was found open. According to her the body had deep cuts in the head and neck. She said that police suspect that some unknown instruments were used to commit the suspected murder. Police confirmed that the body was still deposited in Chongwe district hospital awaiting postmortem while the other suspect was still on the run. Meanwhile investigations by the Daily Nation found that in the evening of Christmas day, the deceased had a heated quarrel with an unknown man believed to be another lover of her lover, Veronica Banda also of the same village. She leaves just about 50 metres from the deceased’s house. A witness whose name has been withheld told this reporter that he found the two men fighting around 20:00 hours on Christmas day. According to his testimony, he was just passing by when he heard noise at the house. He said that he later passed through the house on his way home and was called by the girlfriend in question who told him that the deceased was badly beaten. He claims that he did not bother to interrogate further and went home. He told this reporter that he did not know the man suspected to be the other boyfriend, but acknowledged knowing the lady in question. Another witness, Jeffrey Sibanda, a neighbour said that the deceased had another fight with an unknown man about a month ago. He said that the fight was over the same girlfriend in question. He told this reporter that the neighbours suspect that the murder was connected to the lover as she had not been seen since the evening of December 25th. A visibly dejected brother of the deceased, Derrick Mutale who spoke on behalf of the family described the matter as devastating. He therefore called for justice in his brother’s suspected murder case. Chongwe district commissioner, Mr. Robster Mwanza described the incident as barbaric. He condemned the suspected murder and appealed to the residents to practice restraint when faced with the temptation to engage in fighting. He assured the family that he was hopeful that police would do their job and bring the culprits to book.