Xenophobia hits Zambia following accusations of ritual killings

Businesses owned by foreigners in Zambia’s capital Lusaka were attacked on Monday following accusations that immigrants have been involved in ritual killings.

Police spokesperson Charity Munganga-Chanda confirmed in a statement that some people looted shops belonging to Rwandese nationals after word went round that some people found human body parts in one of the shops belonging to a Rwandan national.

RESIDENTS of Zingalume and George compound are rioting and looting shops belonging to foreigners #Zambia

— Chalimba Phiri (@ChaliPhiri) April 18, 2016

She added that a total of four shops had been broken into and officers were trying to stop looting.

“More officers in full riot gear have been deployed in the area,” she told a local daily.

At least six people have been killed in Lusaka in the past month with body parts including ears, hearts and genitals that had been removed, raising suspicion of ritual killings.

Zambia’s president Edgar Lungu said that police had arrested four people over the killings.