INFORMATION has emerged that the 35-year old police officer who stole over K600,000 from the bank on Monday is a religious gambler.
Constable Emmanuel Tembo earned himself a slot on the Zambia Police Service most wanted police list after he grabbed a bag containing K622,483 from the Zanaco Civic Centre branch where he had been deployed to protect the same money from criminals.
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While many are wondering what could have driven the cop to risk his freedom for such amount, it seems gambling had a part to play.
Sources told Kalemba that he was a regular at one of these mushrooming betting companies and was allegedly asking for some credit when he recently won about K17,000.
The heist happened around 17:13 hours just as the branch was shutting its doors for the day.
Cashiers had balanced their books and stuffed three fat temper bags with the day’s collections, securely put in the bulk room as the security guards stood on duty ready for the cash-in-transit van.
But instead of the expected smooth handover, Tembo, of the Zambia Police Protective Unit, clutched his state-issued AK47 rifle with thirty rounds of ammunition strapped across his shoulder, coolly approached the bulk room and knocked on the door.
In one swift move, he snatched a bag containing exactly K622,483 and bolted leaving shocked staff and SwissGuard security guards behind.
Efforts by cashiers and guards to chase him proved futile as the suspect fully utilised his Lilayi-acquired running skills to evade his pursuers.
Later that evening, at 20:00 hours, Chilanga Police received a curious report through Shimabala Police Post from 24-year-old taxi driver, Misheck Shampande of Kabweza village Who revealed that around 19:30 hours, while parked at Shimabala Market with his Toyota Spacio, a strange man approached him transport a bag for him.
The mystery man handed him a black bag, K80 for booking and instructed him not to open it but deliver it straight to Shimabala Toll Plaza to a police officer known only as Mtonga.
The man then boarded a bus which rolled off towards Kafue.
Faithful to the instructions, Shampande drove to the Toll Plaza and asked for officer Mtonga only to be told the said officer had long been deployed elsewhere and officers at the Plaza refused to receive the bag.
Confused and perhaps sensing he was carrying trouble, the young driver returned to Shimabala Market, then decided to hand the bag over to Shimabala Police Post.
When officers unzipped the mysterious package, inside there was an AK47 rifle bearing serial number ZAM 10825, fully loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition, alongside a full paramilitary police uniform neatly folded.
The weapon and uniform have since been secured at Chilanga Police Station while an inquiry file has been opened and investigations intensified.
Authorities confirmed the development, saying a docket of theft by public servant had been opened and a manhunt launched for the Constable who remains on the run with the missing K622,483.
By George Musonda
Kalemba September 17, 2025
