By MILDRED KATONGO –
A WOMAN of Ndola’s Kabushi township is in police custody after forcing her11-year-old step-daughter to grasp burning coal in her palm as punishment for eating a piece of meat reserved for her father.
Copperbelt Police Commissioner Charity Katanga said Tasila Nyirenda, of house number 28 Kabushi, assaulted her step-daughter by forcing her to hold a burning piece of charcoal to teach her a lesson for stealing relish reserved for her dad.
Ms Katanga said the victim sustained burns on her palm and was receiving treatment at Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital (ADCH) while the suspect was arrested and is in police custody.
She said the incident happened on April 15 around 18:00 hours but was not reported to the police because the suspect and her husband concealed the matter until the biological mother of the girl reported to the police on April 24.
“The mother to the victim, Cleopatra Chikopela, reported to the police that her daughter had her hands burnt. The suspect is in police custody and will appear in court as soon as the medical report form is signed by the medical officer,” she said.
Meanwhile, REBECCA MUSHOTA reports that five people have died in a road traffic accident which happened yesterday morning around 09:40 hours on Chirundu-Kafue Road at Kapirigonzi Hill after the vehicle they were travelling in was hit by a crane.
Two female adults, two males and one female child all died on the spot after the motor vehicle Mitsubishi Sportero registration number BAF 1036 they were travelling in collided head on with an on coming crane while five other passengers sustained serious injuries.