By Thomas Ngala
THE Zambia Police Service has urged car hire companies and individuals renting out their vehicles to carefully scrutinise the people hiring transport from them.
The service’s spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga, said in a statement yesterday the call came in light of increasing cases of hired vehicles being used to commit serious crimes, including aggravated robbery.
He cited the case of a University of Zambia (UNZA) student who was attacked by unknown criminals who were using a silver Toyota Allion with an unknown registration number as one such cases.
“At 10:34 hours [on Monday], Ngwerere Police Station received a report of aggravated robbery from female Chazi Simbuwa, aged 20, a student at the University of Zambia [UNZA], residing in Kapiri Mposhi. The victim was attacked by unknown criminals who were using a silver Toyota Allion with an unknown registration number,” Hamoonga said.
He said the criminals robbed the student of a Techno Pop 7 cellphone valued at K1,500. This incident occurred on Sunday, February 23, 2025, around 17:00 hours near the rail line along Zambezi Road in Ngwerere area.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the victim had travelled from Kapiri Mposhi to Lusaka on the same day, arriving around 14:00 hours.
She was waiting for her brother to pick her up at a bus stop in Kabanana when she was attacked by the criminals using the Toyota Allion car.
Hamoonga said a vigilant bus driver witnessed the attack and followed the suspects, leading to the successful apprehension of two of them.
He identified the suspects as Charles Munyemba, aged 26, of Lusaka West and Innocent Phiri, aged 21, of Matero Township, Lusaka.
“The vehicle used in the crime was also recovered and impounded. It was initially bearing registration number BCE 7956, which is believed to be fake. Inside the vehicle, officers found another registration plate, BAJ 2190, which is suspected to be the original,” Hamoonga said.
He said the two suspects had been detained in police custody and the victim has been issued with a medical report.
Hamoonga also said the recovered motor vehicle had been secured at the police station for further investigations.
“In light of this incident, the Zambia Police Service strongly advises car hiring businesses and individuals renting out vehicles to thoroughly verify the identities of those hiring vehicles, keep copies of valid identification documents of the hirers and install GPS [Global Positioning System] tracking systems in hired vehicles,” Hamoonga said.
He advised the operators to report any suspicious clients to the police.
“We remain committed to ensuring the safety of all citizens and will continue intensifying operations to curb such criminal activities,” he said.
