By SYLVESTER MWALE –
TWO Americans have been raped and robbed at gunpoint by four suspected criminals in Lusaka’s Ibex Hill area.
The incident happened at the weekend on Palm Drive when three Americans aged 21, 31 and 35 were coming from a drinking spree from a named bar in Roma Township.

. Katanga

Lusaka Province Police Commissioner Charity Katanga confirmed the incident in an interview yesterday.
Ms Katanga said the three were driving a Toyota Vitz registration number ALV 1110 when they were blocked along Palm Drive by an unregistered Range Rover.
“There were four people in the Range Rover who were armed with a pistol and an axe. They ordered the three ladies to come out before raping them and stealing K300 cash as well as a phone,” she said.
Apart from the sexual assault, Ms Katanga said the medical report issued to one of the victims showed that she had suffered bruises on her neck.
The incident was the second barely a month after two other women were raped in the area at night by unknown people, raising concerns that the area had become a haven for criminals pouncing on unsuspecting members of the public.
However, Ms Katanga said it was difficult to suggest or generalise that the area was harbouring criminals.
She said the latest incident showed that the victims could have been trailed from Roma where they had gone drinking before being attacked in Ibex.
Police have launched investigations into the matter.
Meanwhile, an 18-year-old man of Shinjoni Village in Luapula Province has drowned on Lake Mweru in Nchelenge District of after his canoe capsised.
Luapula Province deputy Police Commissioner Webby Shula said Goodwell Mwaba died when the dugout canoe he was in with others capsised at Chimbofuma area.
Mr Shula said the accident happened around 17:00 hours on Tuesday after water sipped into the canoe.
The body of the deceased is yet to be retrieved from the water while the two other unidentified people managed to swim to safety.