Eight people sustained slight injuries following a road traffic accident involving two public service minibuses at Shimabala Toll Plaza along Kafue Road in Chilanga District on Sunday.

Confirming the incident, Zambia Police Service Public Relations Officer, Godfrey Chilabi, said the accident occurred around 11:00 hours and involved two Toyota Hiace minibuses.

“The accident involved a Toyota Hiace minibus, registration number CAH 3929ZM, which was stationary at the toll booth, and another Toyota Hiace minibus, registration number ALR 5658,” Chilabi said.

He said the first minibus was driven by Answerwell Mwanza, aged 41, of Chawama Compound, who escaped unhurt, while all six passengers on board sustained slight injuries.

Chilabi said the second minibus was driven by Warren Chiyabwe, aged 23, of Kanyama Compound in Lusaka, who also escaped unhurt, while his two passengers sustained slight injuries.

“All the injured passengers were treated as out-patients at Chilanga Health Centre, and their condition was described as stable,” Chilabi said.

He said preliminary investigations indicate that the accident occurred when the driver of the Toyota Hiace registration number ALR 5658, who was heading towards Kafue at excessive speed, lost control of the vehicle, veered off his lane and collided with the stationary minibus parked at the toll booth facing the opposite direction.

“Investigations into the incident are ongoing,” Chilabi said.

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An illegal miner has died in Luanshya after jumping into Luanshya Dam while attempting to evade mine police officers.

Copperbelt Province Police Commanding Officer, Mwala Yuyi, said in a statement on Sunday that the incident occurred on January 4, 2025, at around 10:00 hours.

“A combined team of Zambia Police and the Fire Brigade from Luanshya Municipal Council had conducted a search of the said illegal unknown miner at Luanshya Dam. Later, around 11:45 hours, the body of the illegal miner was retrieved and properly identified as Malenga Malenga, aged 22, as identified by his father, Kumoyo Malenga, aged 50,” Yuyi said.

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Yuyi stated that the body was inspected and the only visible injuries were on the lips and eyelids, suspected to have been caused by water species.

“Meanwhile, no foul play is currently suspected. The body of the deceased has since been deposited at St Anne’s Tontozo Funeral Parlour in Luanshya, awaiting postmortem and burial.”

Police have opened an inquiry file, and investigations are ongoing.

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The body of a 26-year-old man has been discovered hanging from a tree in a bush by five women who were collecting mushrooms in Mporokoso District, Northern Province.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Mporokoso Town Council Public Relations Unit, the women made the grim discovery between 06:00 and 07:00 hours on Saturday while collecting mushrooms in the bush at Buyantanshi Village in Muchinga Ward, about five kilometres off the Kasama Road.

One of the women, Purity Bwalya, a resident of Chandalala Village, together with her companions, immediately rushed to Mporokoso Police Station to report the matter.

“The Police later engaged Mporokoso Town Council through the Public Health Officer, Sandra C. Mushibwe, and the Division Fire Officer, Davis Sinyangwe, and later a joint team retrieved the body and deposited it at Mporokoso District Mortuary,” the statement said.

The deceased was later identified by his mother, Mary Mulungu, of Chanda Mali Village in Mikomba Ward, as her 26-year-old son, Steven Mtonga.

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She told authorities that the deceased left home on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at around 18:30 hours, and that the family had been searching for him since.

A relative said the deceased appeared slightly intoxicated and had mentioned hearing voices before he ran away and never returned.

Meanwhile, the Chief’s representative, Enock Musawa, who accompanied the retrieval team, expressed condolences to the bereaved family and urged members of the public to seek help and report early whenever they notice unusual behaviour among loved ones, noting that timely intervention could help save lives.

The body is currently lying at Mporokoso District Mortuary, awaiting burial.

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Zambia will next week host a high-level three-day meeting focused on the deteriorating security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), bringing together defence leaders from across the Great Lakes Region.

According to a statement issued by Ministry of Defence Principal Public Relations Officer, Paul Shalala, the meeting is being convened at the request of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), a request which Zambia has accepted.

The meeting would be held in Livingstone from Thursday, January 8, to Saturday, January 10, 2026, and is expected to attract all 12 Ministers of Defence and Chiefs of Defence Forces (CDFs) from ICGLR member states.

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ICGLR membership comprises Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Shalala said Zambia’s decision to host the talks reflected its long-standing commitment to regional peace and stability, anchored in President Hakainde Hichilema’s belief that insecurity in one country posed a threat to the entire region.

“Zambia is an advocate of peace, guided by President and Commander-in-Chief of the Zambia Defence Force, Mr Hakainde Hichilema’s belief that instability anywhere is instability everywhere,” Shalala said.

Defence Minister, Ambrose Lwiji Lufuma, is expected to chair the meeting.

Zambia shares an extensive border with the DRC and has consistently played a diplomatic and mediation role in regional peace efforts.

Like his predecessors, President Hichilema has reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to contributing to lasting peace in the DRC, as instability in the neighbouring country continues to raise regional security concerns.

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Police in Lusaka have launched an investigation into the suspected murder of a 29-year-old woman who was found dead under unclear circumstances in Kalingalinga Compound.

Police received a report on January 3, 2026, around 05:36 hours, from a 68-year-old man of Kalingalinga Compound, who informed officers that his niece, Dorcas Chimwasu, had been found dead at a house within the compound.

According to a statement issued in Lusaka on Saturday by Police Spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi, officers who rushed to the scene found the body lying outside the house.

“The body showed signs of possible assault. The exact time of occurrence is currently unknown,” Chilabi said.

He said the body had since been deposited at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Mortuary pending a postmortem examination to establish the exact cause of death.

“Police suspect foul play and are appealing to anyone with information that could assist in the ongoing investigation to come forward,” Chilabi said.

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An 82-year-old man of Kasama District in Northern Province has reportedly died after allegedly consuming excessive amounts of illicit beer, locally known as kachasu.

Confirming the incident, Northern Province Police Commanding Officer Lucky Munkhondya said in a statement issued on Friday that the deceased left his home on New Year’s Day and went to a nearby township where he purchased the illicit liquor.

“After drinking, he went to a friend’s house within the same compound to rest, as he was in a drunken state. He had a bicycle and 20 litres of kachasu with him,” Munkhondya said.

He explained that the deceased slept at the house and that on Friday, around 05:00 hours, the owner of the house checked on him and found him weak and unable to speak.

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She immediately alerted family members, who later transported him to Chisanga Clinic at around 09:00 hours, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Munkhondya said the body has been deposited at Kasama General Hospital mortuary, awaiting a postmortem examination.

An inquiry file has been opened as police continue investigations.

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A total of 136 road traffic accidents were recorded countrywide, resulting in 16 deaths between December 31, 2025, and January 2, 2026, police have revealed.

According to a statement issued in Lusaka on Friday by Police Spokesperson, Godfrey Chilabi, the period also recorded 14 serious accidents, leaving 24 people seriously injured, and 35 slight accidents, which resulted in 56 minor injuries.

In addition, 71 accidents involved damage only, bringing the total number of casualties recorded during the period to 96.

Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of accidents with 59 cases, followed by Copperbelt Province with 33. Other provinces recorded accidents as follows: Southern (8), Eastern (8), North-Western (8), Central (7), Luapula (7), Northern (5) and Western (1). Muchinga Province recorded no accidents during the period under review.

Chilabi attributed most of the accidents to human error.

“Excessive speed was the leading cause, accounting for 36 cases, followed by failure to keep to the nearside with 28 cases, misjudging clearance distance and improper overtaking, among other causes,” he said.

During the same period, police recorded 895 road traffic offences, with a total of K387,100 collected in admission of guilt fines.

Chilabi noted that compared to the 2025 New Year holiday, which spanned four days and recorded 166 road traffic accidents, the 2026 New Year period, which covered two days, recorded 136 accidents — a reduction of 30 accidents, representing an 18.1 percent decrease.

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In the 2025 New Year period, 15 fatal accidents resulted in 20 deaths, 27 serious accidents left 52 people injured, 38 slight accidents caused minor injuries to 51 persons, while 86 accidents involved damage only.

He further stated that compared to Christmas 2025, the 2026 New Year period recorded a 39 percent decrease in total accidents.

The Zambia Police Service attributed the reduction in accidents to enhanced enforcement measures, including intensified patrols in accident-prone areas, speed management operations, and increased foot and motorised patrols along major highways.

“Despite the decline in road traffic accidents, non-compliance among road users remains high,” Chilabi said.

He assured the public that the Service would continue strengthening traffic law enforcement to further improve road safety and urged all road users to remain law-abiding and responsible as the country ushers in 2026.

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Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) Director General, Nason Banda, has dismissed claims that the summoning of Lusaka Catholic Archbishop Dr. Alick Banda is politically or religiously motivated, saying the matter should not be viewed through political or religious lenses.

Banda said the decision to summon the Archbishop was part of routine investigative procedures and had nothing to do with intimidation or persecution.

According to a call-out circulating on social media platforms, which Banda confirmed, Archbishop Banda has been summoned to appear at DEC offices in Lusaka for questioning in connection with motor vehicles belonging to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) that were seized during investigations into illegally disposed government assets and later found in his possession.

Speaking during a New Year briefing in Lusaka on Thursday, Banda said calling individuals for interviews was standard procedure and did not automatically lead to prosecution.

“This has nothing to do with politics or religion. I am an active Catholic myself. Calling the Archbishop of Lusaka for interviews is normal procedure, and it is not always that whoever is called by DEC for clarification will end up in court,” Banda said in response to journalists’ questions.

He added that such call-outs were not meant to be public and expressed hope that the Archbishop would present himself without unnecessary escorts.

Banda also used the briefing to outline the Commission’s 2025 operational performance, revealing record achievements in drug supply reduction.

He said DEC interventions during the period under review focused on intelligence gathering and investigations into illicit drug cultivation, production, trafficking, possession and abuse.

Banda disclosed that between January 1 and November 30, 2025, the Commission received a total of 4,638 reports linked to suspected drug-related offences, out of which 4,456 investigations were commenced.

This represented a 4.7 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, when 4,421 reports were received and 3,893 investigations were initiated.

He attributed the rise in reports to enhanced collaboration with local and international law enforcement agencies, as well as improved cooperation from the general public.

In terms of drug seizures, Banda said the Commission recorded an all-time annual record high of over 1,800 tonnes of illegal and controlled drugs seized countrywide in 2025.

He said the seizures included 13,156.87 kilograms of cannabis, 1,870,937.20 kilograms of cannabis plants, 997.86 kilograms of cannabis seeds, 474.8 kilograms of miraa, 2.97 kilograms of Benylin with codeine, and 648.6 grams of cocaine.

Banda said the seizures represented an aggregated increase of over 4,000 percent compared to 2024, when the Commission seized just over 42,000 kilograms of various drugs.

He noted that the 2025 seizures were the highest recorded since the Commission’s establishment in 1989, with the largest discovery involving more than 1,500 tonnes of cannabis plants uncovered in the Chifwema area of Kafue District in Lusaka Province.

On arrests, Banda said joint operations involving other law enforcement agencies and members of the public resulted in the arrest of 4,750 people for various drug-related offences during the review period.

This reflected a 0.5 percent decrease compared to 4,728 arrests recorded in 2024.

Out of the 4,750 people arrested, 911 were convicted, 21 were acquitted, and 29 were discharged under various conditions, while 3,789 cases were still before the courts at different stages by the end of the review period.

Banda further disclosed that 125 drug cartels involved in local and international trafficking activities were identified, of which 102 were dismantled, representing an 81.6 percent success rate.

Through the Anti–Money Laundering Investigations Unit (AMLIU), Banda said the Commission continued contributing to national development through the recovery of stolen public assets.

He said assets valued at over K24 million and US$2 million were placed under seizure, with most cases still undergoing investigative and judicial processes, while the majority were already before the courts.

The Commission also seized 56 motor vehicles, of which eight were forfeited to the State, while 48 remained subject to ongoing investigations and court proceedings.

In addition, Banda said the DEC successfully secured the forfeiture of two helicopters, which have since been handed over to the Zambia Air Force to support its operations.

In the real estate sector, a total of 107 properties, comprising 83 houses and 24 pieces of land, were seized. Out of these, three properties were forfeited to the State, while the remainder were still undergoing investigative and judicial processes at the close of the review period.

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Former State House Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Chilubanama, has been dragged to court by a Lusaka businessman after a luxury government vehicle he allegedly sold for US$50,000 was seized by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).

The plaintiff, Peter Majula, a businessman of Rhodes Park in Lusaka, claims he legally purchased a brown Toyota Land Cruiser VXL from Chilubanama through a written letter of sale dated May 23, 2017, during the Patriotic Front (PF) administration.

According to the statement of claim filed in the Lusaka High Court, Majula paid for the vehicle in instalments, beginning with US$15,000 in cash, followed by a bank transfer of the balance.

Majula stated that at the time of the transaction, Chilubanama was already using the vehicle for personal purposes and assured him that all procedures to transfer ownership from the Government of the Republic of Zambia would be completed.

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However, Majula contended that the assurances later turned out to be false.

Court documents reveal that in July 2023, the DEC seized the vehicle on grounds that Chilubanama had allegedly failed to complete payments to the government for the motor vehicle at the time he exited office as Permanent Secretary.

“The defendant represented to the plaintiff that he would complete all procedures to change ownership of the motor vehicle from the Government into the plaintiff’s name,” reads part of the statement of claim.

Majula argued that Chilubanama has not disputed selling the vehicle or its subsequent seizure by the DEC, which he attributes to the defendant’s failure to finalise exit procedures with the government.

Despite repeated follow-ups and a formal demand letter issued by Messrs Nsama and Company on June 10, 2025, Majula claims Chilubanama has failed to refund the purchase price.

Majula is now seeking an order compelling Chilubanama to refund US$50,000, damages for misrepresentation, interest, and costs of the action.

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The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Livingstone has arrested and charged Mercy Mukupa, a teacher at Northmead Primary School in Lusaka, for corrupt practices involving the solicitation of K15,000.

The Commission has also arrested Kelly Mpundu, a clerical officer at the Southern Province Education Office in Choma, for corruptly receiving K13,000.

ACC Acting Head of Corporate Communications Chilufya Chisanga confirmed the arrests in a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday.

Mukupa, aged 34, of Thornpark in Lusaka, has been charged with two counts of Corrupt Practices by a Public Officer, contrary to Section 19(1) as read with Section 41 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012 of the Laws of Zambia.

Mpundu, 49, of Elaine Brittel in Livingstone, has been charged with one count of the same offence.

According to the particulars of the offence in count one, Mukupa allegedly, between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021, in Livingstone District, corruptly solicited K15,000 from Natasha Phiri as a reward for facilitating her recruitment as a teacher in the Ministry of Education.

In count two, Mukupa is alleged to have corruptly received K13,000 from Weka Phiri as an inducement or reward to facilitate the recruitment of her sister, Natasha, as a teacher in the Ministry of Education during the same period.

Further, the particulars of Mpundu’s offence allege that between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021, in Livingstone District, Mpundu, being a public officer, namely a clerical officer at the Southern Province Education Office in Choma District, corruptly received K9,500 as gratification from Mukupa.

Chisanga said the money had been obtained from Phiri as an inducement or reward to facilitate the recruitment of her sister, Natasha, as a teacher in the Ministry of Education.

He said the suspects had since been released on bond and are expected to appear in court soon.

“The Commission would like to warn public officers who solicit or accept bribes from prospective employees seeking Government employment to desist from such acts; otherwise the law will catch up with them, ”Chisanga said.

He stated that such conduct erodes transparency, accountability, and integrity in the recruitment process.

Chisanga said the arrests should serve as a warning and an unmistakable message that the Commission will relentlessly pursue and bring to justice anyone who abuses public office for personal gain.

“Corruption is not a shortcut; it is a crime and those who engage in it will face the full force of the law. We urge all public officers to uphold integrity and safeguard public trust,” he said.

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