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POLICE in Choma have apprehended Ms. Rachael Banda, 30, who was wanted for allegedly taking an 11-month-old boy from Chalala Apex area, Lusaka on Tuesday 14th July 2026 around 16hrs.
Zambia Police Service Public Relations Officer Godfrey Chilabi said preliminary investigations revealed that Ms. Banda, who was known to the child’s family and worked as a maid near the complainant’s residence, allegedly took the child from the mother’s house in Chalala around 16:40 hours on July 14.
“It is alleged that the suspect took the child, who is one of a set of twins, on the pretext of buying him snacks from a nearby shop but did not return,” Mr. Chilabi said.
He said the breakthrough came on July 16, 2026 around 09:30 hours when a concerned 38-year-old citizen of Namwala District alerted police in Choma after seeing a Facebook post about the missing child, which included photographs of the child and the suspect.
The citizen became suspicious and immediately reported the matter to police. Officers proceeded to a lodge in Choma where the suspect was staying, apprehended her, and safely recovered the child.
Police have since engaged the Department of Social Welfare to facilitate the necessary support and care arrangements for the child.
The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue.
(Mwebantu, Thursday, 16th July, 2026)
