Police in Chiengi have arrested a 47-year-old man for attempting to sell his 13-year-old son in exchange for a fishing boat and nets valued at K6,800.
Luapula Province Police Commissioner Elias Chushi confirmed that the suspect was detained at Mununga police post awaiting to appear in court soon.
Chushi said the suspect told police that he wanted to sell his son because he had suffered a lot and wanted to earn a living by venturing into the fishing business.
Chushi said on May 20, 2018 around 12:20 hours, police in Chiengi received a report of trafficking in persons in which Davies Mpundu aged 35 of Kalobwa village in Chienge district was approached by John Chishimba aged 47 of Chilindi village to sell him his son.
He noted that on May 17, 2018 around 09:00 hours Chishimba approached Mpundu to tell him that he had a son whom he wanted to trade in exchange for the fishing boats and nets.
The Commissioner said on May 20 around 09:00 hours, Chishimba took his son to Mpundu and demanded to be given the boat and the nets as payment for the transaction.
The Commissioner said the victim then rushed to call the Community Crime Prevention Unit (CCPU) members who later apprehended the suspect and took him to Mununga Police Post where the culprit was arrested and detained.
