A DARING attempt by a Lusaka police officer to outdo Pamela Gondwe’s infamous record, fell short of expectations.
Constable Emmanuel Tembo, 35, of the Zambia Police Protective Unit, turned from protector to predator when he stormed Zanaco, Lusaka Civic branch, snatching a fat “retirement package” of K622,483 in broad daylight.
Tembo, an inattentive student of Pamela Gondwe’s school of thought, clutching a state-issued AK47 rifle with 30 rounds, swiftly grabbed the cash and disappeared, leaving staff and SwissGuard security guards in shock.
Tembo’s escape saw him enlist a taxi driver, instructing him to deliver a mysterious black bag to an officer at Shimabala Toll Plaza.
By the time the package reached the police, it contained not the stolen cash but only Tembo’s AK47 rifle and a full paramilitary police uniform, neatly folded.
Authorities immediately secured the items and launched an intense manhunt for the runaway constable.
Despite the audacity and precision of the robbery, Tembo’s haul of K622,483 fell short of Pamela Gondwe’s legendary heist, leaving her record untouchable.
Tembo is still at large as the country transitions to the next year.
By George Musonda
Kalemba September 31, 2025
