WITHCCRAFT RIOTERS NABBED

Ndola,: Police in Ndola have arrested 10 people of Mapalo area in Ndola for demolishing a shop and a house of a local businessman after suspecting him to be practicing witchcraft.According to some residents interviewed, the mob was propelled by a verdict by the courts on Monday which saw Sydney Kunda walk to freedom after being accused of having bewitched the son of Grace Mwamba three years ago.This case comes barely fourteen days after 72- year-old woman was accused of practicing witchcraft and is currently being kept by police after her house was demolished by another cohort of young people.ZANIS reports that Copperbelt Police Commissioner, Charity Katanga confirmed the incident in an inter-view.Ms. Katanga has since warned that police will not entertain those championing criminal activities in the name of witch-hunting.The Copperbelt Police Commissioner further warned that police in the region will not relent until culprits of such vices are brought to book.“I can confirm that police received a report from Mr. Kunda of Chipulukusu who is also a businessman say-ing Ms. Mwamba of the same area called him a witch for allegedly be-witching her son three years ago,” Ms. Katanga said.She said the matter that was before the court was given a verdict on Monday after the court ruled that there was not sufficient evidence found against Mr. Kunda.“Upon receiving this news, members of the community became angry and immediately descended on Mr. Kunda’s shop and house where they looted household goods from his shop whose value has not been estab-lished yet,” Ms. Katanga said.Further, Ms. Katanga said her officers who went on the ground managed to calm the situation and appre-hended four men and six women who she added will assist with investigations.She lamentably warned that there seemed to be an increase in criminal activities from a section in Chipu-lukusu where people are hiding under the guise of witchcraft hunting to commit the offenses. ZANIS The Sun