Xenophobic attacks in Zambia over ritual killings

Businesses owned by foreigners in Zambia’s capital Lusaka were attacked on Monday following accusations that immigrants have been involved in ritual killings. Police spokesperson Charity Munganga-Chanda confirmed in a statement that some people looted shops belonging to Rwandese nationals after word went round that some people found human body parts in one of the shops belonging to a Rwandan national. The riots started in Zingalume and George compound before engulfing parts of Lilanda but were quelled by police officers in riot gear. The protestors later stormed Kasungula road near Mandevu compound and started looting shops belonging to Rwandese nationals. They also entered Katima mulilo road near Garden compound accusing Rwandese nationals of being the cause of recent killings in the area.

The residents threw stones and other objects and chanted anti Government slogans and threatened to take their protests to State House. The rioters mostly got away with fridges, grocery items and beer from the shops they looted. They claimed that President Edgar Lungu has failed to act on the spate of killings in their area which has seen seven people killed in what is suspected to be ritual murders. The angry residents said in interviews claimed that President Lungu is a weak President saying late President Michael Sata could not have allowed the situation to degenerate to the current levels. They said they are living in fear and now want Government to flush out the Rwandese from Zambia.
Others accused the Rwandese of taking over all business opportunities and blamed Government for allowing Rwandese to freely open shops at every corner in the area. Police Inspector General Kakoma Kanganja told Reporters late afternoon that he had deployed over 200 paramilitary officers and undisclosed number of officers from the C-5 special squad to control the situation. By press time, most areas of Zingalume, George, Matero, Garden and Mandevu including Chipata compound was tense but the riots had been subdued.