MALAWIAN FARM LABOURER ALLEGEDLY ABDUCTS BOSS’S SEVEN-YEAR-OLD BOY OVER UNPAID WAGES TO MALAWI FROM LUMEZI
Police in Eastern Province have launched investigations into a suspected child abduction case involving a seven-year-old boy of Ackim Village in Chief Zumwanda’s area of Lumezi District.
According to Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba, the incident was reported to Lumezi Police Post, under Lundazi Police Station, on Tuesday, 19th May 2026 at around 18:20 hours.
The complainant, Webson Phiri, 45, reported that his son, Lenard Phiri, aged seven, was allegedly abducted by Yohane Nkhoma, 27, a Malawian national from Chief Kazozo in Mchinji District, Malawi.
Brief facts are that the suspect reportedly came to Zambia in September 2025 in search of employment in tobacco farming and was employed at Ackim Farm in Chief Zumwanda’s area.
It is alleged that on the material day around 06:00 hours, the child’s father left for Lundazi District on personal business while the mother attended a funeral, leaving the suspect with the children at home.
Police say when the father returned around 12:00 hours, he discovered that the child had been taken away by the suspect.
The suspect allegedly informed another worker, identified as Friday Phiri, that he had gone with the child to Malawi without the parents’ consent because he had not been paid his dues following the end of the farming season.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect’s actions may have been prompted by the salary dispute between him and the employer.
The child’s father has since expressed concern over the safety of the juvenile, stating that he fears for his son’s wellbeing in the hands of the suspect.
Police have opened an inquiry file and investigations into the matter are ongoing.