A 13-year-old boy from Chaleba village in Ufwenuka chiefdom, Monze district in Zambia, is nursing multiple injuries after being assaulted with an axe by a 20-year-old man for allegedly spreading rumours that he does not bathe.

The incident occurred on 1st October 2024 and was reported to the police by the victim’s mother.

Brief facts of the matter are that on the aforesaid day around 06:40 hours, the boy had gone to fetch water at the hand pump with his siblings within the village.

On his way back home, he met the suspect who accused him of telling people in the village that he does not bathe most of the time.

The victim denied the allegation but was attacked by the suspect with an axe and a stick, causing him to sustain multiple wounds on his head, a swollen and reddish right eye, a bruised nose, and general body pains.

Southern Province Commissioner of Police, Auxensio Daka, says a manhunt has been launched for the suspect.