Police have formally charged and arrested a 69-year-old man of Chilanga for assaulting an 18-year-old census enumerator whom he found talking to his wife.
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga stated that Mathews Simbele offence of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm (O.A.B.H) Contrary to Section 248 of the Penal Code Act Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
“This was after Westwood Police Station through Rosedale Police Post received a case of Assault (AOBH) in where a Male Juvenile aged 18 an Enumerator in the on-going census exercise of Kalundu Zesco off Mumbwa road in Chilanga District of Lusaka Province of the Republic of Zambia reported that the suspect of Kalundu Compound did beat him after being found with his wife as he was conducting his duties as an Enumerator, fists are alleged to have been used to inflict injuries. He sustained a painful shoulder and general body pains. This occurred yesterday August 31, 2022 at around 15:00 hours in Kalundu Compound,” Mr Hamoonga stated.
He stated that the victim was conducting his duties as an enumerator.
“Brief facts are that, the Enumerator was conducting his duties as an Enumerator in Kalundu Compound and when he reached at the suspect’s residence, he started conducting the census program with the wife of suspect male Mathews Simbele and the moment he reached home drunk and found the wife and Enumerator, he immediately started beating him without asking anything using fists, people around and neighbours attempted to stop him but to no avail. The complainant thereafter reported the matter at Rosedale Police post. Police officers then made a follow up together with the Complainant after he was issued with a medical report and managed to apprehend the suspect male who has been detained for the offence of Assault (O.A.B.H) Contrary to Section 248 of the Penal Code Act Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia. Investigations are on-going,” Mr Hamoonga stated.
He warned members of the public to allow enumerators to conduct their duties.
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“We like to warn members of the public that the on-going census is a government program and as such the Enumerators should be allowed to conduct their duties without any criminal acts hindering them to do so. The Zambia Police Service as a law enforcement agency shall deal with any persons directing criminal acts aimed at hindering the Enumerators in conducting their duties as directed by Government,” Mr Hamoonga stated.