Police in Ndola have launched a manhunt for two carjackers who attempted to steal a motor vehicle and, in the process, hit two girls aged between eight and nine who died on the spot.

Copperbelt Province Police commanding officer, Peacewell Mweemba said the incident happened on October 13, 2024 around 11:00 hours near Suse Village along Chiwala Road in Masaiti district.

Mr Mweemba said a report was received from Vincent Mwaba, aged 28, a taxi driver, stating that two male persons, he can identify if seen, attacked him and stole a vehicle, Toyota IST, Grey in colour with registration number ABP 3847.

“On Sunday, whilst at Jacaranda Mall, he was approached by two men to take them to the Chiwala area.

They entered through Chiwala Road near the Zambia National Service (ZNS) check point and also passed the Zambia Army checkpoint. Along the same road at Suse Village, the two passengers told the driver to turn right, through another gravel road,” he said.

He said after driving about 700 meters, the driver was told to park his car facing the direction where they were coming from and the two passengers disembarked.

Mr Mweemba said the men told the driver that they were waiting for their sister who was coming from a nearby village and then they would be taken back to Masala Township.

“As the two passengers were outside and talking on phones the driver remained seated in the driver’s seat, a few minutes later the two returned but one entered the car while the other remained outside the vehicle.

He instructed the driver to reverse his vehicle, in the process, the one inside, hit him on the head with a metal bar, causing him to sustain a deep cut on the head and started bleeding,” he said.

He said as the driver was shouting, the person inside his car again tried hitting him but managed to escape.

Mr. Mweemba said immediately, the one inside the car jumped on the driver’s seat and was joined by the friend, then sped off along the gravel road.

He said as the two hijackers sped off the gravel road, they later bashed two girls namely Sarah Musonda, aged 9 and Elizabeth Chama, 8 years old both from Muarab village in Chiwala area and died on the spot.

Mr. Mweemba said after the incident, the two robbers jumped out of the car and ran away leaving it at the scene of the accident. 

He said the two deceased bodies have been deposited at Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem and burial.

Mr. Mweemba said police have since launched a manhunt for the two hijackers.