Copper Thieves Strike in Pemba

Police in Southern Province are hunting for eight suspects who stole a truck loaded with copper cathodes worth millions of kwacha.

The robbery happened on 4th January along the Maamba Road between Muzoka Trading Centre and Nachibanga in Pemba District.

According to Southern Province Police Commanding Officer Moono Namalongo, the gang ambushed the truck around 20:00 hours as it travelled from Ndola to South Africa via Kazungula Border.

"Three men and a woman stopped the truck. When the security guard, Mr Pathias Chanda, got out to check, he was grabbed by the men whilst the driver fled," Mr Namalongo explained.

The 37-year-old security officer was bundled into a taxi with three other men, tied up with rope, and driven 15 kilometres along Maamba Road before being dumped near Batoka.

Mr Chanda managed to free himself and walked back to Batoka, where he reported the incident to police at 03:00 hours on 5th January.

Officers later found the truck, registration number BCH 2801 ZM, abandoned between Batoka and Daniel Munkombwe Tollgate at Gumba. However, all 34.76 metric tonnes of copper cathodes had been removed. The driver, 44-year-old Mabvuto Munthali from Kabwe, remains missing.

Police have opened an investigation into aggravated robbery and are appealing to the public for information.