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Zambia: 14 More Fishermen Escape
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The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
8 February 2008
Posted to the web 8 February 2008
Ndola
FOURTEEN more Zambian fishermen, who were captured by armed men claiming to be security officers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have escaped as government sent a team of security personnel to secure the release of those still in detention.
Nchelenge District Commissioner Wilson Kasoloko said 15 fishermen had initially escaped but that one of them was recaptured.
Mr Kasoloko, who had travelled to Mukwakwa area on Wednesday, met one of the escapees only known as Shauli who explained the whole ordeal.
He said according to Shauli's explanation, the fishermen were being kept in some buildings at check points.
"In fact Shauli told me that they were arrested while cleaning nets on the Zambian side and not that they were even fishing," he said.
Nine of them were picked on the same day while cleaning nets at Kalungwishi and were taken to Lukonzolo where they found nine others that had been captured earlier, bringing the number to 18.
They stayed in Lukonzolo for two weeks under very difficult conditions with little food.
On January 20, around 03:00 hours, Mr Kasoloko said that the captured fishermen started off for Pweto where they arrived around 10 :00 hours.
They found four others bringing the number to 22 but that one of them was released leaving the 21 behind.
It was later discovered that six out of the 21 detainees were Congolese, while 15 were Zambians.
On February 3, one of the Congolese decided to pay K300,000 for the release of his relative around 21:00 hours, but that the officials forgot to lock up the gate, prompting 15 Zambians to escape, although one of them, only identified as Gist Musonda, was recaptured.
The 14 who managed to escape had since crossed into Zambia but they were hiding within the country for fear of being charged for violating the fish ban.
"So up to now we do not know the whereabouts of these 14 because they are hiding within Zambia for fear of being pursued," Mr Kasoloko said.
Mr Kasoloko also revealed that some Zambian security officers that had earlier travelled to Pweto to secure the release of the fishermen were told to pay K2 million which they failed.
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Luapula Province acting Permanent Secretary Clement Siame said yesterday another team of security personnel had been dispatched to the area to negotiate for the release of those still being held.
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