Family seeks justice over killed relative

A FAMILY of Kabwe’s Kasanda area is seeking justice to prevail after their 27-year-old relative was tortured and killed by members of the neighbourhood watch at Kasanda police station.

Timothy Kabwe Sichimba was tortured and eventually died at Kasanda police station after he was reported by his neighbour for criminal trespassing.

Family representative, Prospel Sichimba, explained that three people went to their house on September 26, this year, claiming to have come from Kasanda Police.

Mr Sichimba said they called his brother who was in his bedroom to go to the sitting room, but that since he did not know them he refused.

He said that it was at that point that the men followed his brother to his bedroom and started beating him with short buttons.

While in the process of beating, he said, he tried to defend himself so he got a knife and that is when they became more violent and continued after which they locked him up.

“He was beaten and taken to Kasanda Police Station. My brother was put in the police cell without being taken to the hospital for medical attention. My brother died on September 26, 2020 in police cells around 06:00 hours.

“The family was suspiciously and erroneously told that he had died around 13:00 hours after the body had already been taken to the hospital mortuary by police without our knowledge,” he said.

He said that despite recording statements from the witnesses no arrest had been made hence the family was still waiting to hear from the police.

“Senior Police Officers have been having closed door meetings planning on how this criminal matter can be swept under the carpet and so far no arrest has been made,” he said.