A 60-year-old Zambian man has been arrested and confessed to the murder and robbing two fellow Zambian businesswomen in Malawi.
Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba has confirmed to Diamond News that Chola Bwalya was arrested in Lusaka on December 24th and is now detained at Chipata Central Police Station.
Mr. Mweemba revealed that during interrogation, Mr. Bwalya provided a detailed account of the crimes, which occurred in the early hours of October 31st in Lupinga Village, Mchinji District, Malawi.
According to his confession, Bwalya, who is married to a Malawian woman in the area, had been assisting the two Zambian women Jane Lungu and Agness in purchasing beans to resell in Zambia.
After the buying was complete and the seven bags of beans were stored at his house, the women retired to sleep.
Mr. Bwalya stated that around 1:30hrs, he executed his violent plan. He attacked one victim with boiling water, then turned to the other, striking her with a metal bar, killing her instantly.
He then returned to the first woman and fatally stabbed her in the neck.
Hearing a knock at the door during the act, he only managed to seize a small black bag containing 1,000 Zambian Kwacha, a phone and painkillers before fleeing, leaving the beans behind.
He crossed back into Zambia via the Magwero road, eventually got on a bus at Referendum Township travelling to Lusaka.
Mr. Bwalya revealed his initial plan was to bury the bodies in a deep pit to conceal the crime, then sell the beans for personal gain.
One woman died at the scene, while the other succumbed to her injuries later at Chipata Central Hospital in Zambia.
Investigations into the double murder and aggravated robbery are still underway.
By Samuel Khwawe
