Man Found Dead in Simwizi Village After Suicide Threats, Police Confirm

A 41-year-old man from Simwizi village in Chief Mukuni’s area of Kazungula District has been found dead in what police suspect to be a case of suicide, following earlier threats to take his own life due to debt.

Southern Province Police Commanding Officer Auxensio Daka confirmed in a statement that the deceased, identified as Emmanuel Siamutema, was discovered on the morning of 31 May 2025, lying motionless behind an unfinished building in the village.

Mr Daka said the matter was initially reported to Libuyu Police Station at 09:00 hours by Joseph Simasiku, 59, also of Simwizi village, who found the body between 04:30 and 05:30 hours.

According to Mr Daka, the deceased’s wife, Nasilele Kupota, 34, previously intercepted him with a bottle of Doom insecticide on 22 May around 20:00 hours. 

“When confronted, he told her he wanted to commit suicide because he owed someone a lot of money, which he could not pay back,” Mr Daka said.

 He added that the wife took the insecticide from him and disposed of it in a pit latrine.

Mr Daka further stated that on the evening of 30 May, Siamutema left his home and spent the night at the residence of Festo Sichimwa. 

“He told Mr Sichimwa that he was avoiding officials from the Local Court who intended to serve him with court summons over a land dispute,” Mr Daka said.

 “He also expressed his intention to end his life due to the financial pressure.”

Siamutema reportedly left Sichimwa’s house at around 04:30 hours the following morning, saying he was going home to check on his family. 

His body was discovered about two hours later by the village headman, Francis Simasiku, who informed the family and reported the matter to the police.

Mr Daka said police officers who visited the scene found the deceased lying on his back with mucus coming from his nose, but with no visible injuries. 

“It is suspected that he may have ingested a poisonous substance,” he said, citing the deceased’s prior suicidal behaviour.

The body was transported to Batoka Hospital mortuary and is awaiting a post-mortem examination. An inquiry file has been opened and no foul play is suspected at this stage, Mr Daka confirmed.

Farmers Protest Land Use Change After Key Access Road Blocked in Livingstone’s Kasiya Resettlement Area

 CHALI MULENGA

Livingstone

Farmers in the Kasiya Resettlement area have raised alarm over the closure of a key access road following a controversial land use change approved by the local council.

The affected farmers, led by Mr. Kantu Kantu, have accused the Livingstone City Council of disregarding due process and failing to consult stakeholders before authorizing the development.

Speaking to journalists on-site, Kantu, a long-time resident and farmer in Sehena Tevere, expressed concern over the closure of the road which connects the farming community to the main Livingstone–Lusaka Road. The road services over 500 farmers, as well as schools and public facilities within the resettlement scheme.

“The road has been blocked because a private developer was granted permission to change the land use from agriculture to mixed-use,” said Kantu. “We were not consulted. When we found out, we followed procedure and petitioned the council. But instead of addressing our concerns, surveyors showed up and closed the road.”

The disputed land was reportedly part of the degazetted Dambwa Forest, which included Zambia Railways land. Kantu claims that there is no record showing the land was officially transferred to the council, raising questions about the legality of the allocation.

“The council cannot allocate land that doesn’t belong to them,” Kantu stated. “Zambia Railways representatives came to investigate and confirmed they had not transferred ownership.”

Residents are particularly aggrieved that public funds under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) were used to grade and improve the access road, only for it to be blocked off by the developer. “Taxpayer money was spent on this road. Now it’s marked as private property and we are not allowed through,” Kantu lamented.

He also alleged that the council failed to conduct a mandatory site visit before approving the land use change and ignored historical data that shows the road existed as early as 1958 and was used by Zambia Railways to access their railway lines.

“The council has failed us. We followed the law, submitted our objections in writing, but they never responded. We want the government to come down to the ground and see how we are suffering. There is no alternative route provided for us to reach our farms or the main road,” he said.

The farmers have vowed to continue peaceful engagement with authorities but are calling on higher government offices to intervene urgently to prevent disruption of agricultural activities in the area.

Efforts to get a comment from the Livingstone City Council were unsuccessful by press time.

A farmer of Natebe area has expressed deep disappointment over the abrupt closure of a public access road leading to his farmland, saying the decision was made without consultation and threatens his livelihood.

Alfred Siamuntu, who holds a valid 99-year lease on Plot Number 16 in Natebe—issued on March 1, 2012—says he was shocked to learn that the road, developed using Constituency Development Fund (CDF) resources, has been closed off without due process.

“I have paid all my legal fees and have a valid title deed. It is frustrating that such a key access route to my land can be blocked without my knowledge or input,” Siamuntu told reporters during a site visit.

He noted with concern that the road closure appears to be linked to the Zambia Railways land corridor, raising questions about how the local council could allocate land within such an area without proper coordination or public engagement.

“I was never consulted, and now I’m left wondering how a road funded through public resources like the CDF can just be shut down without proper consultation or explanation,” he said.

Siamuntu has now appealed for presidential intervention, stating that the situation calls for high-level attention to safeguard the rights of legally settled landowners and ensure fair access to public infrastructure.

“The President needs to intervene. This is about fairness, proper land governance, and ensuring that farmers like me can continue to work without unnecessary obstacles,” he added.

As the matter unfolds, other affected residents in Natebe have also begun voicing concerns, calling on the Ministry of Local Government and relevant authorities to clarify the status of the road and land in question.

Local authorities were not immediately available for comment at the time of publication.

A land allocation controversy in Kasiya Ward, Livingstone, has sparked outrage among local farmers, who fear being cut off from their farms due to the blocking of a critical access road by a private developer. Ward Councillor Sidney Mwamba has called on the Livingstone City Council to urgently intervene and revise the land plan to protect the livelihoods of more than 500 affected farmers.

Speaking during a site visit, Councillor Mwamba described the situation as “very sad” and “unfortunate,” revealing that the issue dates back nearly two years and that community complaints have largely been ignored.

“This is an access road to the clinic, the school, and to the farms,” Mwamba said. “How do you close a road without providing an alternative? The council is making decisions without consulting the people who are most affected.”

Mwamba disclosed that he was not informed when land in his ward was allocated to private developers, including land along the Zambia Railways reserve area and another stretch reportedly given to ZESCO employees. He emphasized that the community, including himself as an elected official, had been left out of the process.

“I was only told after surveyors were already on the ground placing beacons. No one consulted me, not even a courtesy call,” he said. “Now the community thinks I am part of this illegality.”

Farmers in the area have submitted petitions and written letters to the council, opposing the development, but their concerns remain unresolved. Mwamba confirmed he has copies of the letters and has personally raised the issue with council authorities, but said no meaningful action has been taken.

“This road is the lifeline for our farmers. Blocking it off will create serious tensions. I fear this might escalate into conflict between the developer and the local community,” he warned. “We don’t want people to take the law into their own hands.”

The councillor appealed to the Livingstone City Council, especially the town clerk, to urgently replan the land and preserve the road.

“Let’s do the right thing for our people. Leave the road. Whatever plans are in place, they must not come at the expense of community livelihoods and access to essential services.”

Farmers in Kasiya Ward say they will continue pushing for a resolution, but fear that their pleas may once again fall on deaf ears.

The Livingstone City Council has responded to concerns raised by farmers in Kasiya, clarifying that the disputed land is under legal title and urging farmers to use the designated access road created by the local authority.

Farmers in the area have petitioned the council, opposing a private developer’s activities on land they claim belongs to the community. Despite the protest, the council has confirmed that the developer holds legal title to the property and followed due process in obtaining approval for change of land use.

“Kasiya is an unplanned settlement and also a farm block, so it’s expected to find farming activity there,” said Council Public Relations Manager Melvin Mukela. “But the land in question is legally owned, and the developer has the right to determine how it is used.”

Mr. Mukela explained that while there were informal footpaths used by farmers, these passed through private land. To address the access challenge, the council, using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), created a formal road to serve nearby facilities such as the Kasiya Clinic and Natebe Dam.

“That road was agreed upon in consultation with the landowner and was created to serve the community without infringing on private property,” he said. “The farmers are free to use this road, but they should not create new paths across someone’s titled land.”

He emphasized that the beaconing of the land by the developer was within his rights and was done to protect the property. However, this action did not block the access road agreed upon and constructed by the council.

“As a local authority, we are currently working on replanning all unplanned settlements, including Kasiya, to avoid future disputes and ensure orderly development,” Mr. Mukela added.

The council has urged farmers to refrain from encroaching on private land and instead use the designated road to access their plots.
 

Chali Mulenga

  Journalist, Blogger, Media consultant.

 

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Livingstone Mayor Calls for End to Period Shame at Menstrual Hygiene Day Commemoration

CHALI MULENGA

Livingstone

Livingstone Mayor Constance Muleabai has called for an end to period shame, urging communities to unite in creating a period-friendly world.

Speaking during the Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025 commemorations at Mwandi Community School, held under the theme “Together for a Period-Friendly World.”

Ms Muleabai challenged menstrual stigma and encouraged girls to embrace their menstrual cycles with confidence.

“We should not feel ashamed to be girls. Men will stop attacking us if we start being proud of our periods,” she said, addressing pupils, teachers, and advocates from the Pad-A-Girl Campaign, which organised the event.

Ms Muleabai said there was a need for women and girls to pay attention to their menstrual health and manage their periods with dignity and preparedness.

The commemoration included the distribution of sanitary pads to pupils, alongside a campaign to promote menstrual health education and tackle period poverty.

Praising the Pad-A-Girl Campaign for its work in empowering girls through access to hygiene products, Ms Muleabai said:

“Schools like Mwandi must be safe spaces where girls are supported, not sidelined. Too many still miss class each month due to lack of pads. This must change.”

She urged girls to track their cycles and seek support when needed.

 “Be aware of your body and prepare. Menstrual health is your right, not a privilege,” she said.

Ms Muleabai also pledged to expand access to menstrual products in public institutions and called on parents and communities to play an active and supportive role.

“Let parents support their daughters, and God will bless you. We must all stand together,” she said.

Pad-A-Girl Campaign director Estrol Meleki, of the Estrol Meleki Foundation, also he reaffirmed the initiative’s commitment to menstrual dignity.

“Real change starts at the grassroots—in schools and communities like ours. No girl should miss school or suffer in silence because of menstruation,” he said.   

He praised the mayor’s attendance as a signal of leadership’s role in advancing menstrual equity.

 “Your worship, your presence sends a powerful message that no girl should be left behind due to her period,” he said.

Mr Meleki stressed that breaking taboos around menstruation requires collaboration among government, civil society, and communities.

He acknowledged that significant challenges persist, particularly in rural areas, where access to hygiene products remains limited and cultural stigma endures.

 

“To the girls of Mwandi Community School—your dreams are valid. Menstruation is not a limitation; it is a sign of strength,” he said.

He called on the need to normalise conversations about menstruation and to invest in sustainable menstrual health solutions.

“Together, we can—and we will—build a period-friendly world,” he said.

The Pad-A-Girl Campaign continues to distribute sanitary products, run awareness programmes, and advocate for menstrual equity across underserved schools and communities in Zambia.

 End