INSTEAD of repenting for what they are better known for, sending lightning and thunder to others even when there’s a drought, four people of Luapula Province’s Mansa district have resorted to bringing the capital city of dubious acts (Matero) closer after they were caught with counterfeit notes.
According to Luapula Province police commissioner Mwala Yuyi, the suspects are believed to have been manufacturing counterfeit Zambian Kwacha and United States Dollar notes using printing machines found in their possession.
He revealed that Clever Chilambe and Gerald Luando hired innocent Chomba for a motorcycle ride and opted to pay him generously by sending a K500 to his mobile money after the ride was done, when they had cash at hand.
Yuyi said the duo attempted to launder the crispy counterfeit money through mobile money platforms, making the mobile money operator identified as Gift Mwewa happy and believing the notes came straight out of Dr Denny Kalyalya’s offices.
He said the suspects attempted to pay the rider a K500 through mobile money by first depositing K1,000, composed entirely of counterfeit K200 notes into the account of a mobile money operator, Mwewa.
However, Mwewa quickly identified the notes as counterfeit and pursued the suspects, sprinting like a certain Matero Papa, who jogged the streets of Lusaka with a dangling manhood.
Mwewa finally intercepted the suspects as they attempted another similar transaction at a different mobile booth, leading to their eventual arrest.
The suspects were found with a significant amount of fake currency and equipment believed to be used in the production process.
At the same venue, two more people were arrested in connection with the printing of counterfeit notes.
“The suspects, all Mansa residents were found with Zambian Kwacha and US Dollar notes. They hired a motor cyble ride from Mansa to Kundamfumu and upon reaching the village, the suspects offered to pay the rider K500 via mobile money and led him to a mobile money booth operated by Gift Mwewa.”
“They deposited a K1000 comprising of K200 Kwacha counterfeit notes into Mwewa’s account. Shortly after the transaction, Mwewa noticed the notes were counterfeit and he pursued the suspects whom he found trying to make another transaction at another booth,” confirmed Yuyi.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, May 15, 2025
