By REBECCA MUSHOTA and KASONDE KASONDE –
FIVE suspected bandits have been shot dead by police in Makeni area in Lusaka.
The suspected armed robbers have been on the police ‘most wanted’ list for a long time.
They were believed to have been behind many aggravated robberies in Lusaka, including the hold-up of a Chinese Restaurant in Roma residential area recently.
Lusaka Province Police chief Nelson Phiri said in an interview yesterday that the incident happened around 05:00 hours near Buffalo Village in Makeni.
Mr Phiri said the Police Flying Squad received a tip-off from members of the public that the bandits were in Makeni area.
Police officers went to the area and trailed the suspects who were in an unregistered gold Toyota Runx.
“When they realised they were being trailed by the police, the suspects shot at the vehicle the officers were using and deflated the tyres of our vehicle.
“The police officers shot back and there was an exchange of gunfire,” Mr Phiri said.
It was during the shooting that all the five bandits were gunned down.
Mr Phiri said police recovered from the scene three pistols, ammunition, two machetes and took the vehicle the bandits were using.
He could not give the names of the suspected bandits to the media by press time.
Meanwhile, a 10-year-old girl of Lukulu District in Western Province has died after she was beaten by her biological father.
Monde Lishoma was killed on Monday by her father, Namate Lishoma, 38, of Mwambela Village who beat her as a way of administering discipline on the child.
Western Province Police chief Charles Lungu said Mr Lishoma had been apprehended for beating his daughter to death.
Mr Lungu said Mr Lishoma on Monday around 17:00 hours at his house beat his child using his bare hands.
“According to reports gotten from the mother of the deceased, Lishoma reprimanded the girl and started beating her, after which the girl complained of stomach pains and was rushed to the hospital,” Mr Lungu said.
He said Monde was rushed to Lukulu District Hospital where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Mr Lungu said the mother of the deceased, then informed her relatives at home of what had happened, who then apprehended Mr Lishoma and took him to the police station.
He said Mr Lishoma was in police custody and police were investigating the matter.