Thousands of people, including civic and traditional leaders, this morning paid their last respects to the late Cecilia Chuulu Lubono, a Grade 11 pupil at Choma Secondary School who was murdered.
The church service was held at Swan SDA Church in Choma, after which the body was taken to the cemetery for burial. During emotional speeches, local leaders and school management called for justice to be served in the matter.
According to a police report in Choma, Cecilia of Macha Road Compound was left at home with her 12-year-old brother after their mother went for work on 16 December 2025.
Southern Province Police Commissioner Moono Namalongo confirmed that the incident was reported by the victim’s younger brother. He told police that upon returning home from church around 12:30 hours, he found his sister dead.
Mr. Namalongo stated that when the boy arrived home, he found the house door locked, with the key lying on the ground. After opening the door, he discovered his sister lying on the floor in the sitting room. Police officers later followed the boy to the house and confirmed the report.
Police rushed to the scene and found the body in the sitting room, with blood stains observed on the floor. A stick with blood stains was discovered near the door, while a ladies’ pant suspected to belong to the deceased was found a few metres away from the body.
A physical inspection revealed a deep cut at the back of the head, bleeding from the nose, and fluid suspected to be semen on the genital area. Samples were collected for forensic examination.
Cecilia was born on 5 May 2009.
By Helga Chibwe
