A taxi driver in Lusaka has been arrested for the brutal assault and murder of a young nursing student, Silvia Nanjela, who was attacked during her ride home, sparking an investigation that led to his swift capture.
Lusaka, Oct. 30 [Mwebantu] – In the quiet early hours of the morning, a tragic story unfolded in Lusaka as a young student’s journey home turned into a nightmare. Silvia Nanjela, a 24-year-old student from ZIPS Nursing School, hailed a taxi around 2:00 a.m. to travel from Twin Palm to Kamwala South.
Also Read: By His Own Words, Zambians Must Seek a New President! “When the government fails to change the lives of the people, the people must change the government!” – Hichilema. What should Zambians do in 2026?
Accompanied by a friend who exited the taxi mid-route in Kamwala, Silvia continued alone, unaware that her ride would soon take a dark turn. Police deputy spokesperson, Godfrey Chilabi, recounted how, upon reaching her residence, Silvia asked the driver to stop by the gate. She retrieved her handbag to pay him, pulling out K100 to settle her fare. Ina horrific twist, the driver attacked Silvia, striking her head repeatedly with an empty bottle. Though she screamed for help, the driver, undeterred, drove off with her trapped inside the vehicle.
As the struggle continued, Silvia fought back, her cries for help piercing the quiet of the night. The driver, however, continued his violent assault, switching to another bottle in his brutal attack. In her desperate attempt to escape, Silvia became entangled in the seatbelt, leading the driver to lose control. The vehicle veered off course and crashed into a drainage, the violent ride finally brought to a halt.
Her cries caught the attention of a passerby – a good Samaritan – who rushed to assist. Startled, the taxi driver fled, abandoning his vehicle, a Toyota Vitz with registration number BLB 6050, and taking with him Silvia’s handbag containing K400. The keys remained in the ignition as he disappeared into the darkness, leaving his victim alone and critically injured.
Police soon arrived at the scene and found Silvia, gravely wounded from the repeated blows to her head. Rushed to the University Teaching Hospital, she clung to life for three days before succumbing to her injuries. Following a swift investigation, police apprehended the suspect, who now faces justice. His vehicle has been impounded, and he will soon answer for his actions in court.
Also Read: Suspected corruption quarantines essential drugs. Why would the Minister of Health decide to initiate a fresh single sourced procurement process worth UD$70m when her Ministry has quarantined essential medicines in Zambia just needing re-testing?
About Our Advocacy: Woodpecker’s Digest provides in-depth analyses and commentary on issues of national importance, alongside articles on personal development and health. We believe journalism can be a force for socio-economic change.
©2024 Woodpecker’s Digest.
Putting news into perspective
