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Zambia Police have arrested seven people in connection with the murder of a 17-year-old motorbike rider whose body was found in the Forestry Farming Block area, about 15 km from Solwezi town, police said on Thursday.
Police said the incident occurred on Aug. 25 between 1630 and 1800 hours.
The matter was reported later that day at Kazomba Police Station by the boy’s mother, who said her son, Isaac Kabwita, had gone missing after being hired by a man identified as Kennedy Sapato, 25.
Police spokesperson, Godfrey Chilabi, said officers arrested Sapato on Aug. 31 in Chililabombwe and transferred him to Solwezi Police Station on Sept. 2 for further investigations.
“During police interviews, Sapato led officers to a location in the Forestry Farming Block area where the incident was believed to have occurred,” Chilabi said in a statement.
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Police found Kabwita’s body in a decomposed state, with his hands and legs tied and the body concealed under a bush thicket, Chilabi said.
The body was taken to Solwezi General Hospital mortuary, where it awaits a postmortem examination.
Police also recovered Kabwita’s red Bajaj Boxer motorbike, which they said had allegedly been sold to a 44-year-old woman without proper documentation. His mobile phone was also recovered.
Chilabi identified the other suspects as Loveness Sapato, 63, who is alleged to have counselled the principal suspect; Juliet Kipayeni, 50, and Paton Mbewe, 45, both traditional healers who are also alleged to have counselled Sapato; Prisca Nkolomba, 44, who is alleged to have purchased the motorbike without proper documentation; and Simon Kapiji, 29, and Paul Kalimoto, 25, who are alleged to have acted together with Sapato.
Police have opened a docket in the matter and said further updates would be provided as investigations continue.
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