Residents of the Zambian capital Lusaka
on Monday looted shops belonging to foreigners, accusing them of
involvement in ritual killings, police said.
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| Photo Credit: Lusaka Times |
The xenophobic attacks reportedly
started at a house and a shop belonging to an entrepreneur from Rwanda
in the low-income Zingalume neighbourhood, then spread to nearby Chunga
neighbourhood.
Zingalume residents stoned police, who responded with tear gas. Their relentless rioting forced police to seek reinforcements.
The rioting followed the discovery of a mutilated body in Zingalume on Saturday. Four suspects were arrested on Sunday.
The discovery was the sixth of its kind in or near the two neighbourhoods in two months.
The victims are believed to have been killed to obtain body parts for use in rituals aimed at obtaining wealth or power.
“The residents, who were chanting
slogans, have accused us, the police, of not providing enough security
to them. Now they are saying these foreign businessmen are behind the
ritual killings. We appeal for calm, as police are still investigating
these murders, and all those behind them will be brought to book,”
Police spokesperson Charity Munganga-Chanda said.
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