By Chinoyi Chipulu
A 40-year-old security guard working at Simba Beverages in Lusaka has shot and wounded five company workers using a shotgun, to prove that his gun was not a toy but a real one.
Deputy police public relations officer Danny Mwale explained that police investigations indicated that the five, all men, aged between 22 and 27 were shot after they asked him if it was a toy or a real gun.
“It is alleged that the security guard in trying to prove that he was not holding a toy, pointed the gun at the five before firing at them,” Mwale stated. “They all sustained serious gunshot wounds and were rushed to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) for medical attention.”
According to Mwale, two were still receiving treatment while three others were attended to and later discharged.
He stated that they were reported to be in a stable condition.
Mwale stated that the incident happened around 04:00 hours at Simba Beverages in Lusaka’s Chinika area.
He identified the guard as Augustine Chisano of Kanyama Compound while the shotgun had been kept in safe custody as investigations were still ongoing.
In a related development, police in Lusaka have arrested four people in connection with the offences of unauthorized access to data, identity related crimes and obtaining money by pretences.
Mwale stated that police had been receiving complaints from members of the public that their whatsApp accounts were being hacked and subsequently losing money.
He stated that police investigations led to the arrest of four suspects among them two mobile money agents identified as Brian Bwalya Malama 44 of Chelstone area and Austin Malama 36, of Obama area.
Mwale stated that police had also arrested David Kabwe and Mwiya Machwani both aged 32 of Lusaka’s Kamanga Compound in connection with the same offences.
He stated that police investigation revealed that victims whatsApp accounts were compromised and taken over by the suspects where money was drawn from unsuspecting members of the public who thought they were chatting with persons known to them when infact not.
Mwale stated that police had discovered that the suspects used WhatsApp platforms such LUNO and Bitcoin investment.
He has since appealed to members of the public who could have been swindled as a result of sending money to persons using names such as Anita Nkhuwa, Derrick Mulenga and Mervis Sakala to report to any police station.
Mwale further advised members of the public to always confirm using normal voice calls before engaging in any mobile transaction.
