THE MAN whose reckless decision turned a traffic accident into a full-blown abduction and high-speed police pursuit through the affluent streets of Lusaka is now staring at a mountain of criminal charges, on top of the abduction rap that first landed him in a police cell.
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Jackson Chilemena, the 45-year-old man who allegedly snatched a female traffic officer during what was supposed to be a post-accident procedure, has had his charge sheet expanded to include a string of traffic violations.
And if that is not enough, police say he was also drunk when it all happened.
According to Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, Chilemena, popularly known as Jack Nyela of B42 Salama Park, has officially been charged with abduction, a serious offence under Section 253 of Zambia’s Penal Code.
The list of offences now also includes driving under the influence of alcohol, careless driving, using an uninsured and unlicensed vehicle, driving with an expired test certificate and failing to change ownership of the vehicle he was using during the incident.
This follows the dramatic event that happened on Monday afternoon when Inspector Getrude Nkonde, a seasoned traffic officer from Woodlands Police, was called to an accident involving a flashy white Toyota Land Cruiser and a Mitsubishi Pajero outside Latitude 15 Degrees Hotel in Kabulonga.
After inspecting the damage and identifying the Land Cruiser as the culprit, Nkonde hopped into the same vehicle, driven by Chilemena, to escort the offending party to the station.
However, instead of heading to Woodlands Police as instructed, Chilemena and his two companions allegedly sped off with the officer trapped inside.
With her instincts in overdrive, the officer started yelling and waving frantically for help through the window, sensing that what began as a road accident report had spiraled into an abduction.
Fortunately, the country’s top cop himself
Graphel Musamba was passing by with his convoy just in time to witness the chaos.
With no time to waste, the Inspector General ajournd his journey sine die, made a U-turn that would make Fast & Furious star Vin Diesel jealous, and launched a pursuit that turned the serene Kabulonga streets into a full-throttle police playground giving the Land Cruiser a taste of justice.
Tyres were screeching and lights flashing, the IG’s team boxed in the rogue vehicle near Fairview, rescued the terrified cop, and clapped the abductors in cuffs.
Chilemena remains in police custody as he awaits fulfillment of bond conditions, and he is expected to appear in court soon.
By George Musonda
Kalemba August 19, 2025
