AFTER a painful breakup, a 23-year-old medical student, Melinda Chikwanda, desperate to reconcile with her long-term boyfriend, sought help from a herbalist who claimed to bring back lost lovers.
Unfortunately, her search led her directly into the hands of scammers, resulting in the loss of over K400,000.
Chikwanda, a Zimbabwean national, experienced her heartbreak in April 2024.
While scrolling through Facebook posts, she encountered an advertisement under the name “Beatrice Zulu,” offering services to reunite lost lovers.
The post included a Zambian contact number and on April 14, 2024, Chikwanda initiated contact.
She shared her story with the person who identified himself as “Richard.”
Testifying before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court, Chikwanda recounted how Richard assured her he could not only bring back her lost lover but also facilitate their marriage.
Their conversations primarily took place via WhatsApp Messenger.
Richard’s demands for money began with an initial payment of US$50, which Chikwanda sent via Mukulu.
He then requested US$120, which she also sent. Richard continued to ask for increasingly larger sums of money, claiming it was necessary to proceed with the charms.
He also instructed her to perform certain rituals, including placing eggs on her underwear and reciting incantations.
Chikwanda performed these rituals as instructed, but the demands for money escalated further.
Between April 14 and April 24, 2024, Chikwanda sent a total of US$17,000, equivalent to slightly over K400,000, to “Richard.”
She noted that while the names and numbers of the recipients would change, “Richard” consistently confirmed receipt of the money, and Mukulu would also send collection confirmations.
Chikwanda explained that she was able to send such a large amount because her father provided her with a US$20,000 allowance every six months for emergencies.
Upon realising she was being swindled, Chikwanda reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest and court appearance of two individuals: Bashir Nsubuga and Sigugu Kaffro, both from Zimbabwe.
Chikwanda identified Nsubuga in court as the person she had been communicating with, known to her as “Richard.”
The duo appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Mbuywana Sinvula, where they pleaded not guilty to one count of theft.
The charge stated that on April 14, 2024, in Lusaka, Nsubuga and Kaffro jointly stole K413,725 from Chikwanda.
In delivering the judgment, the court highlighted that the advertisement for the ‘lost lover’ service was under the name Beatrice Zulu, yet the listed number belonged to Nsubuga, who is clearly not Beatrice Zulu.
The court noted that when contacted, Nsubuga introduced himself using the fake name “Richard” and persuaded the complainant to send him money.
“He used various SIM cards and phones which were seized during his apprehension; the conduct amounts to fraud,” the court stated.
“If Nsubuga was indeed a genuine ritualist with the expertise to bring back lost lovers, why then would he not advertise in his own name and conduct his business in his own name?”
The Lusaka Magistrate’s Court concluded that the prosecution had proven its case against Nsubuga beyond a reasonable doubt, establishing that he did indeed steal the money.
The court found him guilty and sentenced him to three years imprisonment with hard labour.
However, the court acquitted Kaffro, stating that other than being apprehended with Nsubuga, there was no evidence connecting him to the offense.
“No other evidence had been brought before Court to show that Kaffro acted together with Nsubuga to steal the money,” the court ruled.
“The prosecution has not proved its case against Kaffro to the required standard of beyond all reasonable doubt, and I find him not guilty for the offense of theft and I acquit him forthwith.”
By Lucy Phiri
Kalemba, July 27, 2025
