KATIMA MULILO – Two Zambian nationals were shot by the police on Monday as they tried to flee arrest in the Sangwali area of the Zambezi region.

The two men allegedly robbed tourists sleeping in their rented lodge at Nkasa Rupara National Park in the wee hours of Monday.

Zambezi police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Kisco Sitali, confirmed to this publication that two men were shot.

“We received a report that there was a break-in at Nkasa Rupara National Park. The incident was reported when tourists woke up and discovered their items were stolen. It’s a tented lodge, so criminals cut the tent and enter to steal. Two male Zambians were spotted getting a hike where the break-in took place,” Sitali said.

The police managed to set up a roadblock. One vehicle was stopped and the two suspects were identified. The driver told the police that he picked them up from the spot of the robbery.

Upon a police search, the two suspects allegedly fled the scene and one of them was shot in the leg. He was taken to Katima Mulilo hospital. One managed to run away and was only apprehended late Monday afternoon, hiding at one of the villages in Sangwali.

“The police managed to track him down until at a certain village where he was found hiding in a traditional hut. When he heard the police talking outside, he came out of hiding, and started running away. The police also shot him in the leg and he too was taken to the hospital,” Sitali reported. The suspects are Simulation Liswaniso (28) and Nyambe Matemwa (38).

A case of housebreaking was registered with the police.

Sitali said all stolen items belonging to tourists have been recovered and will be returned to their rightful owners.

Stolen items include clothes, cameras and cellphones.