Five suspected criminals were shot dead by police yesterday in Lusaka’s Chibolya Compound following a violent confrontation after an earlier attack on officers in Kalikiliki Compound, the Zambia Police Service has confirmed.
According to police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi, the incident occurred on April 9, 2026, after officers responded to intelligence reports of armed suspects operating in Kalikiliki.
Chilabi said police initially received information around 10:00 hours that four suspected criminals, identified as Joseph Zulu, also known as “Zed Commander,” Joseph Lupo, alias “Jay Code,” and two unidentified individuals, were armed with offensive weapons, including pangas.
A team led by Inspector Mutemwa Mweenda, comprising police officers and members of the Community Crime Prevention Unit (CCPU), was dispatched to the area.
The team apprehended two suspects and recovered machetes, while two others fled.
“While escorting the apprehended suspects, the officers were attacked by their accomplices armed with offensive weapons, leading to the escape of the apprehended suspects,” Chilabi said.
He added that Inspector Mweenda sustained a fractured left leg during the attack, while a CCPU officer suffered minor injuries.
Later that day, police received further intelligence that the suspects had regrouped in Chibolya Compound.
A joint team of Anti-Robbery officers and officers from Mtendere Police Station was deployed.
Chilabi explained that upon arrival, officers were confronted by the suspects, who were armed with pangas, iron bars, and other weapons, and were joined by a hostile crowd that began throwing stones.
“Despite officers firing several warning shots, the suspects continued advancing, posing an imminent threat to the officers’ lives,” he said.
He said police then discharged firearms in line with Section 24 of the Zambia Police Act to restore order and carry out arrests.
Five suspects sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to University Teaching Hospital, where they were pronounced d£ad on arrival.
He added that officers recovered offensive weapons, including pangas, iron bars, and an axe, from the scene.
Mr. Chilabi stated that the deceased suspects were linked to several serious crimes, including aggravated robberies and a murder.
However, Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) leader Sean Tembo condemned the action by the police equating it to extrajudicial killing.
In a statement, Tembo said the reason people condemn mob justice is the same reason he condemns what he calls extrajudicial killing by police.
He said without due process, citizens can’t tell who is or isn’t guilty.
PeP STATEMENT CONDEMNING YESTERDAY’S MURDER OF 5 CITIZENS BY THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE IN CHIBOLYA COMPOUND, LUSAKA
Liberty House, 10th April 2026
1. As Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) we condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the lack of respect for human life by the UPND Government in general, and the Zambia Police Service in particular, as exhibited by the extrajudicial killing of 5 citizens in Chibolya Compound yesterday, who were accused of having earlier assaulted a Police Officer by the name of Inspector Mweenda.
2. According to the statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Godfrey Chilabi, it is evident that the five deceased citizens are just petty criminals who could have been apprehended and presented before courts of law, instead of being murdered in cold blood by the Police.
3. It is also worth noting that, by the own admission of the Police PRO, none of the five deceased citizens are alleged to have had any firearms. The only weapons displayed are axes and hammers, which are common tools found in any average household.
4. As Patriots for Economic Progress, we wish to appeal to President Hakainde Hichilema and his Government, to respect human life, as it is sacrosanct, and should only be taken away by the State in very exceptional circumstances. Yesterday’s circumstances in which the Police murdered 5 citizens in Chibolya Compound of Lusaka, fall far below the threshold of circumstances in which the State can justifiably take away human life of it’s citizens.
5. Lastly, we call upon Government to consider establishing a vibrant and independent Police Internal Affairs Division, which can competently and independently investigate Police misconduct and abuse of power. This would be in line with international best practices for policing. It is evident that the current Police Public Complaints Commission is a toothless institution that is incapable of holding wayward Police Officers accountable. The buck stops with the President.
///END
Issued by:
Sean E. Tembo
Party President
Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP)
Lusaka, Zambia
Email: [email protected]