Eight People Arrested For Burning Church

The Zambian Police in Lusaka have arrested eight people for the burning of Bethel Church of Zambia in Lusaka’s Chipata Overspill Compound on Sunday night on suspicion that there was a Mermaid in the Church. The eight have since been charged with arson, proposing violence and assault.

It has been reported that elder at the church, who resides in the church and is aged 52, and resides at the same church, has a 30-year-old son who has been sick for some time.

It is alleged that the mother in-law of the Church elder’s son who is sick went with a witch doctor at the house of the Elder…Whilst there, the witch doctor alleged that there was a Mermaid (ilomba) in the Church and that for him to cure the patient, he needed to go inside the Church to perform some rituals. The Church elder refused to allow him  and this infuriated the mother in-law, who allegedly incited a mob that had gathered. The mob stoned and set the Church ablaze and also razed down the wallfence to the church,” Police spokesperson Esther Katongo has stated.

When police rushed to contain the fire, an officer was stoned and cut on the face. The Church building had its doors and windows damaged while the plastic chairs and some benches were burnt, as well as some being stolen.

“Those arrested are Beatrice Manda aged 47 of Chipata Overspill, who is the mother in-law of the patient, Steve Mwanza  aged 29 of  Chazanga, who was the witch doctor involved, Jered Banda ,aged 25 of  Chipata Compound, Michael Mwanza aged 35 of Chipata Overspill, Steve Kalusa, aged 35 of  Chazanga Compound, Felix Kasonde aged 27 of Chipata Compound,  James Bwalya aged 20 of Chipata Compound and Caleb Ndalemeke aged 45 of Chipata overspill,” Ms Katongo stated.