The bodies of 27 people, believed to be migrants from Ethiopia, have been "dumped" by the roadside in Ngwerere area north of Zambia's capital Lusaka.

They likely suffocated to death while in transit, Police Spokesperson Danny Mwale told the BBC.

One survivor found "gasping for air" has been rushed to a local hospital, he said.

Zambia is a transit point for migrants, mostly from the Horn of Africa, who want to reach South Africa.

Mr Mwale said residents of Ngwerere found the bodies on Sunday at 06:00 local time (04:00 GMT).

He said the police believe the migrants are Ethiopian nationals based on the identity documents found on them.

"Our preliminary investigations indicate that a total number of 28 persons, all males aged between 20 and 38, were dumped in Meanwood Nkhosi along Chiminuka road in Ngwerere area by unknown people," the police said in a statement.

The bodies have been taken to Zambia University Teaching Hospital mortuary.

In neighbouring Malawi, the authorities discovered 25 bodies of Ethiopian migrants in a mass grave in October.

The police there said they had evidence to link the stepson of Malawi's ex-President Peter Mutharika to the grim discovery.

mightyhaze:
They couldn't live off that rich green route?

It's not as if it's a desert route

FarahAideed:
Till black people take their destiny into their own hands this nonsense will continue

Tokskob2008:
Nawa.... We go gather collect 5/10k, abuse, fight ourselves and sell our votes to people who will use the next 2 terms in government to make sure they feed and take good care of their family and friends very well while they ignore and do absolutely nothing for us in return.

In fact they will wake up every morning looking for ways to make us suffer more then our last and only option is to start running to better countries where the citizens didn't sell their votes and conscience for money or tribalism and we expect something like this not to happen

Barryseal:

Ethiopians don't identify as blacks though.

Barryseal:

Ethiopians don't identify as blacks though.

@Alonzo50, @airmax16 and @newisd75
guys I don't reply private messages. Whatever y'all wanna say. Pls say it here in my mention

WannaHowzit:


That's why suffocation inside a packed truck without windows is the best guess.

udomonday:
if it's soffocation,then they must all be fools,I bet Nigerians won't succumb that way,is the window made of iron,why must you wait until you start gasping for breath before you know that you are suffocating?

JaceBlaze:
God bless the dead...

Just look at the danger people put themselves through just to enter what most people deem a "xenophobic country" ...makes a lot of sense,right??

BeanX:
Are they white then or coloured?

mightyhaze:
They couldn't live off that rich green route?

It's not as if it's a desert route

WannaHowzit:


JaceBlaze in the house

VeryWickedMan:
This is more than enough of the requirement.

IronGalaxy:
This is so sad man