Police Arrest Man For Impersonating Lusambo

Police in Eastern Province have arrested a 39-year-old man for impersonating Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo and obtaining money under false pretences. 

A police spokesperson said Patrick Banda was arrested in Kateke district after allegedly duping five transporters in Chipata district out of more than K20,000 by impersonating Mr Lusambo.

Mr Banda, who is from Petauke, is currently in police custody and is scheduled to appear in court soon.

Police were able to apprehend Mr Banda after tracing the phone he used to receive money transactions while impersonating Minister Lusambo.

The real Lusambo congratulated the police officers on their work.

“On a number of occasions, this individual had been calling my friends, some Cabinet colleagues and some business people with desperate pleas for financial assistance to apparently sort out some pressing financial issue or the other,” Mr. Lusambo wrote on his Facebook page.

He advised citizens to report any suspicious phone calls purporting to be him to ZICTA on 7070. 

He then issued a warning to any would-be criminals plotting a similar scam.

“For those contemplating joining such fraud rings, know that the law will soon catch up with you and you shall be prosecuted for the offence of impersonation contrary to section 102(b) of the penal code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia and for the office of obtaining money by false presence contrary to section 309 of the penal, code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.”