A LUSAKA farmer has shot dead his domestic worker as he attempted to fire at suspected thieves who were spotted at his premises, Police Spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela has said.

Ms Kanjela identified the farmer as Arthur Steward Francis, 69, and the deceased as Mary Siamatika who was shot in the chest.

The incident happened on Thursday at the Fig Tree Farm on Mukango Road in New Kasama around 19:30 hours.

Ms Kanjela said the incident happened when suspected criminals tampered with a water pump at Francis' farm and that upon receiving the information, he fired his gun hitting the domestic worker in the chest.

Ms Kanjela said Siamatika died on the spot and her body was lying in the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) mortuary awaiting postmortem.

She said Mr Steward had since been arrested and charged with murder.

In a separate incident, two people yesterday died on the spot while several others sustained serious injuries when the Zambia-Botswana, Marcopolo bus they had boarded overturned on Great East Road at Molola Basic School in Chongwe.

The accident happened after a tyre burst and the driver lost control. The injured were currently receiving treatment at Chongwe Hospital where they were rushed after the accident.