MOBILE MONEY AGENT ROBBED OF K428,050 IN NAKONDE AFTER MEETING MONEY CHANGER AT BANK
A 32-year-old mobile money agent of Nakonde has been robbed of K428,050 by two suspected armed criminals who later escaped into Tanzania.
Muchinga Province Police Commissioner Kenneth Kang’ombe has confirmed the incident to Chete FM News, saying it happened on Friday, July 17, 2026, around 11:30 hours along Izukanji Road in Katozi Village, Chief Waitwika’s area in Nakonde District.
Mr. Kang’ombe says the victim, Job Siwanzi, reported that he was attacked by two unknown men who were riding a Boxer motorcycle. He said one of the suspects allegedly pointed a suspected pistol at the victim while the other grabbed a sack bag containing K428,050 before the pair sped off towards the Tanzanian side.
According to police, the victim operates a mobile money booth near Malawi Market in Katozi Village.
Earlier that morning, Mr. Siwanzi first went to Zanaco Bank, where he withdrew K33,050 to use in his business.
After withdrawing the money, he walked a short distance to the nearby Absa Bank intending to obtain more cash for his daily mobile money transactions.
While at Absa Bank, before making any further withdrawal, he met James Simwenga, a 44-year-old money changer from Katozi Village.
During their conversation, Mr. Simwenga asked whether the victim needed cash.
Mr. Siwanzi told him he required K395,000.
Police say Mr. Simwenga then advised the victim to transfer the equivalent amount into the company’s account, assuring him that cash would be provided once his Tanzanian business partner delivered it.
Satisfied with the arrangement, the victim transferred the money and waited at the bank.
A short time later, Mr. Simwenga informed him that the cash had arrived.
The two went inside Absa Bank, where the money was counted and the victim was handed K395,000 in cash.
Together with the K33,050 he had earlier withdrawn from Zanaco Bank, the victim was now carrying a total of K428,050.
He placed the money in a sack bag and left the bank, intending to return to his mobile money booth to begin the day’s business.
However, as he walked along Izukanji Road, about 500 metres from Absa Bank, two men riding a Boxer motorcycle intercepted him.
Police say one of the suspects allegedly produced a suspected pistol and pointed it at the victim while the other grabbed the sack bag containing the money.
The suspects immediately fled the scene on the motorcycle and crossed into Tanzania.
The victim later reported the matter to Nakonde Police Station, and officers visited the scene.
However, police found that the area had already been disturbed by people moving between Zambia and Tanzania, making it difficult to recover possible evidence.
Police have since opened a docket, while James Simwenga has been apprehended and is being held in police custody to assist with investigations through possible interviews.
CHETE FM
MOBILE MONEY AGENT ROBBED OF K428,050 IN NAKONDE AFTER MEETING MONEY CHANGER AT BANK
