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Jones Chiinga (48) and  two of his sons Noston (24) and Nickson (29) were arrested and charged with the offence of conspiracy to murder.

According to police sources, the trio is alleged to have attempted to sell the siblings to a named Pentecostal church in Kabwe in a suspected ritual act that would have resulted in the children being sacrificed for blood.

Central Province police chief Solomon Jere who confirmed the development said police received a tip-off from a member of the said church that Noston and Nickson had approached the church and were advertising four children for sale.

The church member is alleged to have also told the police that the incident happened on Friday last week.

Dr Jere said a three-year-old girl was being sold for K70 million, a 21-year-old boy was going for K60 million while the balance was to come from the sale of the other two children whose identities were not yet established.

He said the  father of Noston and Nickson had earlier remained at a hiding place while the two approached the church and were advertising and negotiating the sale of four children at a total cost of  K271 million.

But police managed to corner him after they had arrested the two who were at the church.

“We take this case to be that of conspiracy to murder because the children, if sold, were destined to be killed,” Dr Jere said.

He said Mr Chiinga had continued to plead with the police to release him and his two sons and was ready to surrender his Canter light truck in exchange for their  freedom.

The three, all of Mabinga village in Chipepo area of Kapiri-Mposhi District, were detained at Kasanda police station and were expected to appear in court soon.

He said investigations had also been launched to establish the activities at the named church.

In Chibombo, police have arrested and charged a  20-year-old housewife who allegedly murdered a senior wife over a mattress.

Dr Jere said the incident, which happened on Saturday, occurred after Oliver Mundenda, 25, who is married to the two women, decided to buy a mattress  for the senior wife, a move that angered the junior one and a fight ensued.

He identified the accused person as Margaret  Lwabilula while the deceased as Beatrice Hagoma aged 23, all of Chilabila village in Chief Chitanda in Chibombo District.

The body of the victim was taken to Liteta Hospital mortuary and a post-mortem was expected to be carried out today. — Times of Zambia.