The Zambia Police Service has launched investigations into the theft of 1,335 boxes of Horse Mackerel fish valued at US$75,525 United States Dollars, equivalent to approximately K1,359,459, which allegedly went missing while in transit from Namibia to Kasumbalesa Border in Chililabombwe District.
Copperbelt Police Commissioner Rae Hamoonga says the incident is believed to have occurred between 13th August, 2026 in Namibia and 25th August, 2026 around 16:00 hours near Kasumbalesa Border Market in Zambia.
He says the matter was reported to Kasumbalesa Police Station on 26th August, 2026 at 17:00 hours.
He says the report was made by Hardson Chiti, aged 34, of Kamenza East in Chililabombwe District, who is the Company Director of RENGRO Limited, a company with offices in Lusaka and at Kasumbalesa Border.
Mr. Hamoonga says the company ordered 1,335 boxes of Horse Mackerel fish, each weighing 20 kilogrammes, from a fisheries company in Namibia.
He says the consignment was loaded onto a refrigerated truck and trailer, bearing Namibian registration numbers N282-282WB and N285-282WB, and was destined for the company’s warehouse in Kasumbalesa.
He adds that the truck was being driven by a Zimbabwean national.
Mr. Hamoonga says it is alleged that upon reaching the Kasumbalesa area on 25th August, 2026, the driver stopped responding to calls from his employers. He said on 26th August, 2026, the truck was allegedly discovered abandoned near Petroda Filling Station in Kasumbalesa, while the driver was nowhere to be found.
Mr. Hamoonga says the entire consignment of 1,335 boxes of fish was allegedly missing from the truck.
He says the driver and other persons unknown are strongly suspected to have been involved in the theft.
Acting on the report, Mr. Hamoonga said police opened a docket and instituted investigations into the matter. He said preliminary information obtained from the Immigration Department at Chirundu One Stop Border Post indicates that the driver allegedly exited Zambia through the border post on 26th August, 2026 at approximately 13:03 hours.
The Copperbelt Police Commissioner has confirmed that no arrest has been made, and the stolen consignment has not yet been recovered.
By Respite Kaoma
