Armed robbers on Wednesday night shot dead a 27-year-old man and stole over K80,000 after attacking a business center at Kapata Market in Chipata.

Eastern Province Police Commissioner Luckson Sakala told journalists, Thursday, the incident happened around 20:00 hours at a shop called Mr Phone.

He said one of the victims, Daniel Phiri, of Mthila Nsembe compound, who was shot with a suspected AK 47 riffle in the chest died on the way to the hospital.

He said Phiri, a business person, was shot when he had gone to ask for smaller notes at the shop where the attack took place

Sakala said two Mr Phone shop workers, Daniel Jere, 23, of Sido Compound and Joseph Daka, 29, of Umodzi compound were rushed to Chipata Central hospital after being stabbed with a knife and that one was treated and discharged while the other was admitted.

He told journalists that the owner of the shop estimated that over K80,000 was missing.

Sakala said police had started foot patrols starting from 21:00 hours in ensuring safety.

But some eye witnesses who sought anonymity lamented that police did not respond to the report on time.

“This happened somewhere around 19:25 to 19:45, we even reported the matter at Kapata bus station police post but no police came until somewhere around 21, the Police Commissioner should address this matter” said the witness.