Govt to pay family of 13-year-old boy killed by police stray bullet K500,000 as compensation

Government has agreed to compensate the family of slain 13-year-old, Frank Mugala, with K500,000.

Frank, a grade 8 pupil at Chazanga Basic School, was killed during the Zambia Police Service operation on February 13, 2020.

The boy was killed by a bullet when the police were trying to disperse residents who were protesting after a rumour went round that individuals suspected of being involved in ritual killings through gassing unsuspecting victims with a paralysing chemical were hiding at the school.

Last year, the family sued the State in the Lusaka High Court demanding for the arrest and prosecution of the police officers who murdered him.

They sought damages for loss of life expectation of the deceased and refund for funeral expenses amounting to K170,000.

Lloyd Mugala, suing in his capacity as the administrator of the estate of Frank stated that an inquest into his death instituted in the Lusaka Magistrate Court concluded that the boy was killed by the police.

He said that the deceased was not only a bright pupil but a hard-working boy who contributed to the livelihood of the family.

“The deceased came from a family involved in the informal sector earning a living from gardening, running an active auto mechanics workshop and general trading,”

“The deceased was a reliable helper in the family business every time he returned from school and during holidays and the loss of dependency is estimated at K1,900,000.00 over his expected life time,” he said.

According to a consent judgement entered, the State agreed to pay the family K500, 000 as full and final settlement of the plaintiffs claim.

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