What was expected to be a productive farming season instead landed well-known farmer Maria Zaloumis, 40, in cold police cells alongside her 34-year-old husband, Nathaniel Barthram, a Nigerian national.
The couple is under suspicion for the alleged murder of Enock Simfukwe Kasengele, who died on August 17, 2025, at Kabwe Central Hospital.
Police say Simfukwe was initially detained for allegedly being hired to pour acid on Zaloumis. But events took a sharp twist when he died in custody, with a postmortem later revealing blunt force head injuries and brain trauma as the cause.
The couple was alongside their three employees under the farmhand package:
Gift Daka, 23
Fortune Mutangeti, 27
Daniel Chilowa, 40
Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga confirmed the arrests, urging the public to remain calm as the law takes its course.
©️ Zambia Reports | August 24th, 2025.