A CARETAKER at the Presidential Guest House in Kitwe has been killed by eight criminals.

Mr Kedson Mukonde, 52, was beaten by criminals on February 17, this year while on his way home.

Copperbelt police chief Mary Tembo said Mr Mukonde, who was in the company of another man, was assaulted by eight criminals on President Road in Ndeke around 21:00 hours.

He sustained injuries and was rushed to Kitwe Central Hospital where he died.

At the time of the struggle, Mr Mukonde hit one of his assailants with a shovel.

The suspect sustained injuries and went to Ndeke clinic for treatment where he was identified and later apprehended.

She named the suspect as Sipo Mbewe aged 26, who also led to the arrest of Misheck Mbewe 31 and Sydney Siakwende 30 all of Changachanga area in Ndeke Township.

In another incident, three Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) employees have been arrested for allegedly conniving

with members of the public on the pretext that they had won a prize in the ZAMTEL promotion.

Ms Tembo said the ZNBC workers from Kitwe studios had informed three members of the public that they should collect their money from ZNBC for 'winning' a prize in the ZAMTEL promotion.

She said the incident was reported by Mike Mutwenu of ZAMTEL that some winners informed him that they had won some money when they never entered in any competition.

In another case, police in Kitwe have arrested a 17-year-old boy for allegedly raping his classmate of the same age on February 16 this year.

The girl was allegedly raped after she took back the boy's exercise book which she had borrowed for notes.

Ms Tembo said the boy, allegedly squeezed the girl's neck, gagged her mouth and later forced himself on her.

He later gave her a pain killer which he forced her to drink and gave her some money for transport.