Due to killings of relatives and neighbours as a result of disputed lands in Zambia, the Police in Mazabuka District in Southern Province have appealed to residents to use dialogue in settling such matters.
“As police, we are appealing to members of the public to always use dialogue when resolving land disputes,” Mr Kashif Mphande, Assistant Commissioner Southern Province said.
People should not always resort to killing each other when they could settle pressing issues such as land disputes through relevant institutions like the courts of law.
Mphande made the appeal sequel to rising reports of land dispute murders, the latest being the hacking to death of 37-year-old Chiboyi Hangoma of Chiboma Village in Chief Mwananchingwa area by his cousin Haninga Kalapa of Munyati Villiage.
This comes barely a few weeks after two brothers of Kalomo also beat up a villager of the same area following a dispute over land.
Kalapa allegedly used a machete to strike Hangoma who sustained a deep cut on the left side of his chest and back.
Mphande said the incident happened on Sunday around 21:00 hours.
“We received a report in which Timothy Hangoma of Chibombo Village in Chief Mwanachingwala’s area in Mazabuka reported that his son, Chiboyi Hangoma was murdered by his cousin Haninga Kalapa over a land dispute,” he said.
Police rushed to the scene and picked the body which is currently lying in the Mazabuka District Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem.
Mr Mphande said that Kalapa, who was on the run following the incident, later handed himself to police and was arrested
.In Kalomo, the two brothers, Reuben and Cenisios Siamakwamba of Siamanyana Village in Chief Siachitema’s area allegedly used unknown objects to inflict injuries on Current Mukonka and have been charged with murder.
The two brothers and Mukonka have tussled in a land dispute in the same village and allegedly fought on the fateful day with the latter suffering severe beatings on his head.
Mukonka, who sustained multiple severe head injuries, became unconscious and was rushed to Kalomo Hospital where he later died.
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