LINDA SOKO TEMBO Writes
@SunZambian
A 30-year-old woman, of Mnthipa village in Katete district on Tuesday staged a naked protest demanding justice in a case in which her crop field had been taken away from her without compensation, the local headman who witnessed the incident has told the Sun.
Headman Kalinde, Adrian Banda said Zaliwe Zulu complained to him that she decided to walk naked and almost committed suicide because she was not receiving the justice she deserved after a named family got her soya beans field but allegedly failed to pay her K891 as compensation.
In an interview with the Sun, Mr. Banda said the woman, a divorcee and a mother of three, had been to about four different traditional councils, the police and District commissioner’s office in Katete hoping to be heard but she did not get the justice she had hoped for.
He said the police had gone to see the family that took her Soya beans crop field in Mabete village and it was resolved that they pay her but nothing had been done.
“A Katete woman on Tuesday surprised people when she completely undressed at Kafumbwe shopping centre and walked past several villages in broad day light demanding justice in a case in which her crop field had been taken away from her without compensation by a certain family.
The incident happened around 15:00 hours. She took off her clothes and was completely naked as she walked towards Katete Boma passing through the villages of Kalinde, Mtoseni, Mnjolo and Kazule,” he said.
Mr Banda said he was called around 02:00 hours to go to the scene where the woman had climbed a tree and was threatening to kill herself, stating that she had tried everything possible to get the money but nothing was happening.
“Kazule Ward Councillor Alick Willima quickly intervened by calling two Community Security personnel who climbed the tree and persuaded her to climb down. Headwoman Kapumela Rufina Phiri quickly dressed the woman in a skirt and a blouse before the security took her to Katete police,” he said.
Mr Banda said they took the woman and the matter to the Katete police who are handling the case.
