17/09/2025
Lusaka cop robs bank, bolts with over K600,000
A YOUNG police officer in Lusaka has gone on the run after forcibly grabbing himself a fat "retirement package" of K622,483 from Zanaco, Lusaka's Civic branch two days ago.
Bankers at the said branch lived through a movie scene as a uniformed cop, meant to guard the bank's money, turned into the robber and vanished with loot.
Around 17:13 hours, just as the branch was shutting its doors for the day, cashiers had balanced their books and stuffed three fat temper bags with the day’s collections, securely put in the bulk room as the security guards stood on duty ready for the cash-in-transit van.
But instead of the expected smooth handover, Constable Emmanuel Tembo, 35, of the Zambia Police Protective Unit, decided to write his own criminal chapter.
Clutching his state-issued AK47 rifle with thirty rounds of ammunition strapped across his shoulder, Tembo coolly approached the bulk room and knocked on the door.
When it swung open, witnesses say the officer’s face changed from being a protector to a predator.
In one swift move, he snatched a bag containing exactly K622,483 and bolted faster than Olympic runner with his rifle in hand, leaving shocked staff and SwissGuard security guards behind.
Efforts by cashiers and guards to chase him proved futile as the suspect fully utilised his Lilayi-acquired running skills to evade his pursuers.
Later that evening, at 20:00 hours, Chilanga Police received a curious report through Shimabala Police Post from 24-year-old taxi driver, Misheck Shampande of Kabweza village.
Shampande told officers that around 19:30 hours, while parked at Shimabala Market with his Toyota Spacio, he was approached by a strange man stepping off a Lusaka–Kafue minibus.
The mystery passenger asked if he was pirating, then handed him a black bag, K80 for booking and instructed him not to open it but deliver it straight to Shimabala Toll Plaza to a police officer known only as Mtonga.
The man then vanished back onto the bus, which rolled off towards Kafue.
Faithful to the instructions, Shampande drove to the Toll Plaza and asked for officer Mtonga only to be told the said officer had long been deployed elsewhere and officers at the Plaza refused to receive the bag.
Confused and perhaps sensing he was carrying trouble, the young driver returned to Shimabala Market, then decided to hand the bag over to Shimabala Police Post.
When officers unzipped the mysterious package, inside there was an AK47 rifle bearing serial number ZAM 10825, fully loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition, alongside a full paramilitary police uniform neatly folded.
The weapon and uniform have since been secured at Chilanga Police Station while an inquiry file has been opened and investigations intensified.
Authorities confirmed the development, saying a docket of theft by public servant had been opened and a manhunt launched for the Constable who remains on the run with the missing K622,483.
"Officers checked in the bag and discovered that it was an AK47 rifle bearing serial number ZAM 10825 with a full magazine and a full paramilitary police uniform. The same have since been secured at the police and inquiry file opened," close sources revealed...
Credit: Kalemba September 17, 2025
