Police in Lusaka have arrested a 46-year-old woman of Chazanga Compound for killing her 54-year-old husband by locking him in their house and setting it ablaze.

In a statement, police spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo explained that Solomon Zulu was only rescued by his landlord but died at UTH due to severe burns.

“Police in Lusaka have arrested a woman of Lusaka’s Chazanga Compound identified as Mary Phiri aged 46 in connection with the murder of her husband identified as Solomon Zulu aged 54. Brief facts are that on 26th October, 2018 between 04:00 hours and 04:30 hours, Mary Phiri allegedly set ablaze the house, which the couple was renting, after locking her husband inside the house,” Katongo narrated.

“The victim was rescued by the Landlord Lazarous Mwila who heard him call for help and when he went outside, he noticed that the house in which the victim was, was on fire and that the victim was trying to escape through a window but it was small. He then called for help from other people in the neighbourhood who put managed to rescue the victim and put out the fire. The victim suffered severe burns and was rushed to Chipata first level Hospital and was later refered to UTH where he later died on 27th October, 2018 at about 11:00 hours.”

Katongo stated that Phiri was in police custody, yet to be charged with murder and arson.

“At about 17:45 hours members if the public managed to apprehend the suspect who had initially run away and handed her over to Police. The body of the deceased is in UTH mortuary while the suspect is in police custody yet to be charged with Murder and Arson,” she stated.

Meanwhile, Katongo stated that police in Kawambwa District received a report of drowning from lnnocent Nkamba aged 39, of Thomas village, Chief Munkanta in Kawambwa District.

“Brief information stated that on 27th October, 2018 at unknown time, his son male juvenile Joshua Nkamba aged 12 of the same address also a Grade 6 pupil at Mpota Primary School went to swim in Ng’ona River near Kawambwa/Mbereshi Road Bridge in the company of 12 friends. The deceased’s friend only noticed that the Joshua was missing from the group around 17:00 hours.They went and informed the deceased’s father who later reported to Police. The Scene was visited and a search was conducted by members of the community and Police but could not find the body.The search continued today, 28th October, 2018 and around 08:00 hours, the body was found and has since been retrieved from the river,” stated Katongo.