POLICE IN CENTRAL PROVINCE RETRIEVE BODY OF 49-YEAR-OLD BURIED IN SHOP OPERATED BY 22-YEAR-OLD FRIEND
Police in Central Province have retrieved the body of a 49 year old man who had been missing since March 2025. The body was discovered buried inside a shop operated by his 22-year-old friend in Lunda Village, Kapiri Mposhi District.
Central Province Police Commissioner Charity Munganga confirmed the development and identified the deceased as Patrick Champolela, popularly known as Choga. She revealed that he was murdered and buried in a two roomed mud brick structure that was being used as a shop.
According to police, the incident is believed to have occurred between March and October 11, 2025 and that despite the disappearance being reported in March, the suspect, identified as Shadrick Tembo, has been operating the same shop where the body was discovered, since August 2025.
Authorities said the body was found in a decomposed state, with both legs tied using a green chitenge material and partially protruding from a shallow grave inside the structure.
Police have launched an investigation into the matter. Shadrick Tembo, the deceased’s friend, has been detained to assist with investigations.
By Helga Chibwe.
