THE family of murdered 26-year-old Hatambu Hambulo, the daughter of Forum for Democracy and Development leader Edith Nawakwi, says it has forgiven the murderers, but that the law should take its course.

The deceased's uncle, Chris Hambote said this when scores of people turned up at Miracle Life Family Church to pay their last respects to Hatambu in Lusaka yesterday.

The requiem mass, which was initially supposed to start at 10:00 hours, only started around 13:00 hours owing to a postmortem on the body.

Before giving his late niece's life history, Mr Hambote apologised for the delay, attributing it to the postmortem which he said he "painfully" witnessed for about two hours with several others.

He said the sheer brutality employed in the murder of Hatambu was shocking to the family and raised more questions than answers.

Mr Hambote, however, said despite the killing of Hambote, heroines were produced in in the police service, particularly two female traffic officers, by apprehending some suspects even before the family got wind of the news.

"Despite the evilness of the killing of Tambu, heroines were produced that very day.

"Our heroines were the police, particularly two alert (female) police officers that were completely on a different mission, but were divinely directed to do the job," he said.

He said because the family was a prayerful one, it had resolved to forgive the killers, but that it would let the law take its course.

Hatambu, who was described by family, friends and workmates as hardworking, cheerful, responsible, God-fearing, action-oriented and inquisitive, was later put to rest at Leopards Hill Memorial Park.

Hatambu was found dead and dumped in a manhole in Ibex Hill on Tuesday with her legs and arms tied and police have so far apprehended four people in connection with the murder.

At the time of her death, she worked as a marketing assistant at the Food Reserve Agency.

She was a holder of a Bachelors Degree in Agriculture she acquired from the University of Zambia and intended to pursue a Master's Degree programme.

Prominent among those present at the Church service were Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda, Lusaka Province Minister Freedom Sikazwe, Justice Deputy minister Ngosa Simbyakula, former First Lady Vera Tembo and second Republican President, Frederick Chiluba's widow, Regina.

Others were former Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti, former Ambassador to Libya Mbita Chitala, former Information and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Angela Chifire and former Community Development Permanent Secretary Sherry Thole.