TWO Ndola women were yesterday raped by a taxi driver and his colleagues in Chifubu Township after a drinking spree.

The 23 and 21-year-old women, both of Pamodzi site and service in Ndola were raped after they hired a taxi on their way home between 03:00 and 04:00 hours.

Copperbelt police chief Mary Tembo who confirmed the incident said after the drinking spree, the two women hired a taxi which had three men inclusive of the driver.

Ms Tembo said as they drove to Pamodzi Township, the driver made a u-turn to Kawama Township and headed to the grave yard where the men demanded K50,000 from the women.

When the two women resisted that it was not the initial agreement, the two men who were in the back seat with one of the women, pinned her down and took turns in raping her while the other who had occupied the front passenger seat was raped by the driver.

In the process, the woman raped by the driver lost her mobile phone which she suspects must have been picked by the same driver.

She, however, managed to flee while her friend was dumped in Kawama Township after being threatened not to report the matter to the police.

And in Mufulira, a two-year- old baby was defiled by a known person in the bush at the weekend.

The girl's father who reported the incident to the police said his daughter was defiled by a Mr Eustace Kunda, 25, of no fixed abode around 14:30 hours at a nearby bush.

The girl sustained swollen private parts and was currently admitted to Ronald Ross Hospital.

In another incident, an 11-year-old girl was defiled by someone she could not identify.

The girl of Chibolya Township was defiled between 11:00 hours and 18:00 hours on August 3, 2012.

Meanwhile, a whichfinder and a teacher have been arrested for causing a stir among residents of Ndola's Masala and Lubuto townships during a mission to cleanse a brother to the teacher suspected to be practising witchcraft.

There was a near riot at Masala Police station when the residents attempted to secure the release of the witch-finder from the police.

Ms Tembo confirmed the arrest of the witch-finder popularly known as Dr Sam but whose real names were Sam Siluweya, aged 22, of Chief Muyombe in Isoka District and the teacher identified as Night Mwale of 1494 Main Masala who were apprehended on Sunday evening.

The two were charged with conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and were currently detained at Masala Police station awaiting court appearance.

Siluweya was hired by Mwale to retrieve charms from his older brother who was staying at his house. Mwale was accused of being behind the ill health of another relative.

Ms Tembo said Siluweya attracted public attention in Masala and Lubuto townships when he walked half naked from Kantolomba cemetery on his way to Mwale's house where he was supposed to do the cleansing ritual.

She said police intercepted the two men before they could reach Mwale's house to prevent an instant mob from descending on Mwale's older brother.

"Usually, we know what happens when someone has been named a witch, the immediate instinct is to try and take the law into their own hands to discipline the suspect," she said.

The irate residents almost caused a commotion at the police station when they demanded that the duo be handed back to them so that they could complete their mission.