Village Headwoman Murdered In Nyimba As Police Hunt For Second Suspect

Police in Eastern Province have launched a manhunt for a suspect following the brutal murder of a 66-year-old village headwoman in Nyimba District, an incident that has shocked residents in Chieftainess Mwape’s area.

The victim, Ireen Soko, headwoman of Kalongo Village, was reportedly murdered in the early hours of Monday, March 16, 2026. Her body was discovered around 06:00 hours by passersby in a nearby garden, a short distance from her home.

Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba confirmed the incident, stating that the body was found lying in a pool of blood with serious head injuries. “The deceased sustained a deep gash above the left eyebrow and another cut on the forehead, indicating that she was attacked using a sharp object,” Mr. Mweemba said.

Police believe the attack happened around 02:00 hours after the victim’s daughter reportedly heard a disturbance at her mother’s house. Mr. Mweemba explained that the daughter later saw three unknown individuals fleeing from the scene, raising suspicion of a coordinated attack.

Investigations led officers to blood-stained clothing allegedly belonging to one of the suspects, identified as Paulo Sakala. According to police, the suspect admitted ownership of the clothes during interrogation and revealed that he committed the crime together with another individual. “The suspect confessed that he acted alongside a colleague who is currently on the run,” Mr. Mweemba said.

Police have since arrested Mr. Sakala, while a manhunt has been launched for the second suspect who remains at large. Authorities have appealed to members of the public with any information that may assist investigations to report to the nearest police station.

The motive behind the killing has not yet been established, and police say investigations into the matter are ongoing.