Illegal settlers are reported to have beaten and injured four officers from the Zambia police, department of forestry and a Non-Governmental Organization, who went to conduct a sensitization programme to relocate them to an alternative land.
According to Central Province Police Commissioner, Charity Munganga says the illegal settlers who have invaded land belonging to Amatheon Agri farmers in Mumbwa District are said to be resisting relocation.
Ms Munganga told the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Mumbwa that the settlers got violent, blocked the road and attacked the officers by throwing stones and whipping the victims with sticks.
She disclosed that the attacked officers sustained deep cuts, swollen and bruised ribs and painful body parts from the incident which occurred on Monday, March 3rd, 2025.
Ms Munganga named the injured as Steven Chizanga 41, a police officer who sustained a deep cut above the left eye and Lackson Mphande 50, a forestry officer who sustained bruises on the right side of the ribs.
“Others are Fidelis Phiri 28, an office assistant at Monitors for Justice, a Non-Governmental Organisation who complained of a headache and a painful back and left leg, and Situmba Kwalela 56, a police officer from Munengo area at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife who is reported to have sustained painful left ribs and is coughing blood,” Ms Munganga said.
She explained that the illegal settlers are supposed to be relocated to a different farm land that was surrendered by Amatheon Agri to the Office of the Vice President, but some have vowed not to move claiming the land they are occupying is traditional land.
Meanwhile, Central Province Permanent Secretary, Milner Mwanakampwe has warned that the government will not condone people who abrogate the law with impunity by attacking officers.
Dr Mwanakampwe said that government officers had a meeting with the traditional leadership in chief Kaindu’s area where the illegal settlers agreed to be relocated.
