Two brothers were shot and killed in Lusaka, Nyanga on Monday evening, prompting a local community leader to call for greater cooperation between residents and police to tackle rising crime in the area.
The shooting occurred at 19:47 on 8 December at a premises in Mtsha Street, Lusaka Phase 2. The victims, aged 57 and 59, were found dead in a Wendy house on the property when police arrived at the scene. Medical personnel declared both men dead at the scene.
Provincial police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that Nyanga police are investigating two counts of murder. “The motive for the attack is yet to be determined,” Van Wyk explained. The suspects fled the scene and remain at large.
Dumisani Qwebe, secretary of the Nyanga Community Policing Forum (CPF), expressed his shock at the tragic loss of life. “It is sad to see two old people with gun wounds,” he said, emphasising that the deaths highlight the severity of crime in the community.
Qwebe stressed that fighting crime requires a collective effort beyond just police work. “Dealing with crime is not only for the police, but the community at large,” he stated.
Despite the approaching holiday season, Qwebe is determined to mobilise residents. “We know that people are preparing to go on holiday, but as community stakeholders, we need to get together and come up with a plan to fight crime in our vicinity,” he said.
He noted that murder and gender-based violence are among the most frequently reported crimes at Nyanga police station, but acknowledged a significant challenge: “People however are scared to come forward.”
Qwebe has vowed to unite the community to “speak with one voice” in the fight against crime.
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