By 
A Kanyama businesswoman, Maureen Mwape, who sustained a life-threatening abdominal injury from a stray police bullet, is insisting that the State must be held fully accountable, maintaining her demand for K1.5 million in compensation.
Mwape argued that the AK-47 assault rifle, from which the bullet was fired, was “unquestionably under the custody and control of officers at Kanyama Police Station at all material times.”
“The defendants are fully aware, through internal reporting, police investigations, scene visits, and ballistic responsibilities, of the incident, the injury inflicted, and the failure of their officers to exercise proper control over government-issued firearms,” she said.
She rejected claims that the matter lies solely within her knowledge, pointing to police investigations, scene visits, and internal reports as evidence that the State was fully aware of the incident and its circumstances.
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Although Kanyama Police received a report on July 14, 2024, Mwape said it was not treated with the urgency expected when a civilian suffers a gunshot wound from a military-grade weapon. She described the failure to account for the AK-47 and its discharge as prima facie negligence.
Challenging the State’s claim that the bullet came from an “unknown source,” Mwape cited the Attorney General, Mulilo Kabesha, acknowledging that the bullet entered her home through the roof, a trajectory consistent with negligent discharge by officers patrolling nearby.
She also contested the assertion that “no expended ammunition” was recorded, saying this contradicted standard armoury procedures, record-keeping obligations, and the ballistic evidence extracted from her body.
“The officers involved acted negligently, recklessly, and in breach of their statutory duty to ensure public safety and proper weapon control,” Mwape said.
She added that the State took no meaningful action, offered no admission or denial of liability, and failed to conduct a proper investigation into whether the bullet was fired from a Zambia Police weapon.
Mwape continues to demand that the government be held accountable for the injury she suffered and for its failure to ensure the proper control of firearms entrusted to its officers.
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