A- TWENTY-NINE- YEAR-OLD Burundian refugee of Lusaka’s Kabangwe area has been murdered in cold blood by unknown assailants.
Christopher Nimbabazi, a business man was shot twice by assailants as he was entering his yard from his shop on Friday around 22 : 00 hours.
The incident was confirmed by the family members, the Commissioner for Refugees Abdon Mawere and the Zambia police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga.
According to an eye witness John Bosco Bahati, the alleged assailants shot Mr. Nimbabazi in his leg and chest while he was driving his minibus inside the yard and drove off immediately.
Mr. Bahati explained that he did not see the faces of the assailants because he just heard gun shots from his house after packing his car.
“I was ahead of him when the incident happened, I drove in, parked my car and went into the house when I heard gun shots, I was too scared to come out but later I did when I found my neighbor lying dead in his vehicle, I couldn’t believe my eyes,” he said
Mr. Bahati said he suspected that maybe he could have been the target since he drove almost the same vehicle as that of Mr. Nimbabazi.
He said after hearing the gun shot, he and his household immediately rushed outside to establish what was happening when they saw Mr. Nimbabazi’ engine running.
“When we drew closer to the bus we found Mr. Nimbabazi bleeding profusely while lying lifeless so we immediately informed the police who come and inspected the scene,” Mr. Bahati said.
And his elder brother Melius Ndihokubwayo said his brother’s death had shocked everyone because he had no enemies in the area.
He explained that Mr. Nimbabazi had a good heart and related well with his neighbors and community members but wondered why the unknown people decided to end his life in cold blood.
Mr. Ndihokubwayo called on the police to quickly investigate the matter and ensure that the assailants were brought to book.
“Right now we are living in fear because we do not know who is next and what is more shocking is that the assailants just shot my brother and drove off without stealing anything so we are scared and need justice to prevail,” Mr. Ndihokubwayo said.
And the wife, Emerine Nishimwe 24 who broke in tears while explaining the ordeal called for justice and appealed to the police to ensure her husband’s killers were apprehended.
And Mr. Hamoonga confirmed that police in Ngwerere Police Station received a report of Murder in which Mr Nduwumeremyi 25, a Burudian national reported that that his brother Mr Nimbabazi, a businessman at 10 Miles Market, had been shot by unknown criminals as he was entering his yard whilst in his vehicle registration number BAL 7874 Toyota hiace white in colour .
He explained in a statement that the gun short penetrated the driver’s window and that the victim sustained a gunshot wound at the back side of the waist.
“Police visited the scene and managed to pick two cartiages. This occurred on Friday around 22:18 hours at his residence in Manyama Village 10 miles. The Body was picked and deposited to the University Teaching Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem,” Mr. Hamoonga said.
And Mr Mawere said he was saddened by the incident and called for more vigilance among refugees and asylum seekers who were targeted by criminals sometimes merely for being foreign nationals.
