Police in Salima have shot and killed Jelemaya Maluwa, a 45-year-old member of the Rastafarian community in the district.

According to his wife, Maliam Saidi, the incident occurred on Saturday on 7th December 2024 at Chipoka as Maluwa was traveling from Salima to his home village in Golomoti.

Maliam explained that tensions between Maluwa and the police began the previous Thursday when officers allegedly refused a bribe he offered to allow him to transport cannabis.

“My husband often passed through with cannabis and would give money to the police, but last Thursday, the officer who shot him refused the money,” she said.

Italeaf Lungu, a spokesperson for the Rastafarian community, expressed deep disappointment, condemning the shooting as unjustifiable. Lungu noted that on the day Maluwa was shot, he was not carrying any cannabis, raising further concerns about the incident.

Meanwhile, Central East Region Police Public Relations Officer, Esther Mkwanda has confirmed the sad development and said Maluwa was accidentally shot as officers attempted to shoot the tires of a vehicle suspected of transporting cannabis.

The driver, believed to be evading police, was attempting to flee when the shooting occurred.

Jelemaya Maluwa hailed from Daniel Village under Traditional Authority Maganga. He has left a wife and nine children.