At least eight people killed and dozens injured in stampede at food bank
AT LEAST eight people have been killed and 28 others injured after a stampede broke out at a food bank.
The stampede occurred as food parcels were being handed out
The deadly crush was triggered as 35,000 people attempted to enter a sports complex where a Christian charity was handing out food parcels.
According to local media, six women, one man and a young boy were among those killed.
The incident occurred as thousands gathered for a church event on Sunday near slums in the Zambian capital Lusaka.
Police say the church organisers were forced to stop distributing parcels of corn meal, oil and salt, as crowds grew increasingly impatient.
An inquiry has been launched by police into the event, which was an outreach event organised by members of the Church of Christ’s Lesedi group.
Thousands of people queued to receive food parcels from the church
Reports suggest the church had been handing out chits of paper to locals in the days before the event to be used as tickets to join the food distribution queue.
The event attracted thousands of residents from nearby compounds - some of whom had arrived as early as 3am for their promised packages.
Southern Africa has been hit by severe drought since 2015, causing food prices in countries like Zambia to rise steeply.