Zambia: Police station set on fire during witch-hunt

By Mwiinga

LUSAKA, Zambia

A mob in northwestern Zambia set a police station on fire when officers tried to stop it from killing an elderly man accused of witchcraft, Zambia's police chief said Sunday.

Kakoma Kanganja told reporters that residents of the newly-created Mufumbwe district in North-Western province were carrying a coffin on Saturday while on the search for a man, who they accused of raping and then killing a schoolgirl using witchcraft.

It is a traditional practice in Zambia to carry a coffin while pursuing a witch-hunt.

Kangana said when police officers tried to stop the angry mob, it turned against them forcing them to retreat in a police station, which they set on fire late Saturday, injuring six police officers and damaging several vehicles.

He added that the incident is being investigated.