POLICE have closed in on a 28 year old electrician who preyed on innocent individuals by posing as ministers on Facebook to extort money from them.
Simon Mwalubulo from Bauleni in Lusaka confessed of creating pages of Garry Nkombo, the minister of Local Government and Urban Development among other ministers and scammed others of money in exchange for jobs and Constituency Development Fund (CDF) money.
From what many say a “side hustle”, Mwalubulo revealed that he obtained enough funds to even build a two bedroom house which is on window level in Monze.
“I didn’t have a choice because at that time I was out of employment. After finding a job I was thinking ‘let me stop these things… Because I have been given something to do that will bring food on my table,” Mwalubulo said in a mix of vernacular and English during interrogation in a video leaked.
“To the people I was impersonating, find it in your heart to forgive me. For you guys out there stop impersonating people, even if it is a nobody… it’s a very bad idea. For me, I will never repeat it… For you guys out there you should learn a lesson [from me].”
Mwalubulo, who was previously arrested in 2022 shared that he was not expecting to be caught, “I thought I was dreaming when the officers found me,” Mwalubulo narrated.
Unfortunately for him, what he so much wanted to be a dream was reality – justice came calling to haunt him for his crimes against humanity.
According to the police, Nkombo reported the incident to police on October 28, alleging unknown individuals impersonated him on Facebook to solicit money.
The imposters, operating under a fake “Garry Nkombo” profile, reportedly promised jobs in local government and access to Constituency Development Funds (CDF) for empowerment purposes.
The fraudulent activity, primarily conducted between January and October 2024, was reported to originate from Lusaka.
Responding to the complaint, a joint task force comprised of Zambia Police and the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) launched an investigation.
Call Detail Records (CDR) from the suspect’s phone numbers were obtained and analysed, leading to a potential location in Monze, Southern Province where Mwalubulo was caught.
According to sources, Mwalubulo was located in Monze, at his second wife’s residence in Manunga Compound.
“The Zambia Police Service strongly urges the public to verify the legitimacy of job offers or financial solicitations before making any financial commitments, especially those claiming affiliation with public officials,” advised police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga.
“Cases of identity fraud and personation are serious offenses, and anyone found guilty will face the full force of the law.”
Mwalubulo was found with a TECNO Camon cellular phone, MI cellular phone, Samsung phone, access to a Facebook page under the user name “Garry Nkombo”, a SIM card (0773733491) allegedly used to solicit money from the public
And all recovered items have been seized under Section 121(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, CAP 88 of the Laws of Zambia, to aid in the ongoing investigations.
By Moses Makwaya
Kalemba November 2, 2024
