• Eleven suspects have been arrested for the thefts of mobile phones and withdrawal of money in mobile accounts.
• The task force has been receiving complaints from members of the general public that thefts of cell phones had become rampant.
• The National Cyber Security Task Force instituted Investigations it managed to initially apprehend six suspects from different parts of Lusaka.

National Cyber Security Task Force has arrested 11 suspects behind the thefts of mobile phones and withdrawal of money in mobile accounts.
In a statement, Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba explained that the task force has been receiving complaints from members of the general public that thefts of cell phones had become rampant, where in some cases their money was illegally withdrawn from their mobile money wallets and commercial banks.
“The National Cyber Security Task Force comprised of Zambia Police Service, Anti-Corruption Commission, Drug Enforcement Commission and Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority has been receiving complaints from members of the general public where thefts of cell phones had become rampant and complainants were having their money illegally withdrawn from their mobile money wallets and commercial banks. This was done after their Personal Identification Number (PIN) codes were interfered by unknown criminals after the phones had been stolen. This occurred between January and August, 2022 at unknown times,” he said.
Mr. Kajoba stated that when the National Cyber Security Task Force instituted Investigations, it managed to initially apprehend six suspects from different parts of Lusaka and interrogations led to the apprehension of three mobile money booth operators.
He added that the trio led the team to the apprehension of two former employees of ISON Zambia, a company contracted by a named telecommunication company in managing their call centre services.
“Further investigations and interrogations led to the apprehension of three mobile money booth operators namely: Lawrence Tembo aged 26, Michael Banda aged 25 and Brian Nangala aged 25 all of unknown house numbers in Chipata compound. The Trio led the team to the apprehension of two former employees of ISON Zambia, a company contracted by Airtel Zambia in managing their call centre services.”
“These are Shebby Chikwangano aged 36 of house number Six off Zambezi road in Roma and Eric Mubu aged 30 of Ng’ombe compound. Upon being interviewed they led to the apprehension of Isaac Zulu aged 27 of New Ng’ombe compound an employee of ISON who was responsible for changing PIN Codes and making PIN Resets for members of the public whose cell phones had been stolen on behalf of the other suspects. The task force managed to recover Fifteen Mobile Phones and twenty-five Sim Cards, “he added.
Mr. Kajoba stated that all the 11 suspects have been charged and arrested for offences of Theft and will appear in court soon.
“We are sending a strong warning to all criminal elements that are involved in the syndicate of stealing mobile phones that the long harm of the law will soon catch up with you like these we have in our custody. The National Cyber Security Task Force has all legal means at its disposal to hunt down criminal elements involved in this syndicate and shall not rest until all these criminal elements are made to account for their criminal deeds in the courts of law, “he stated.