K62,000 Box Wire theft case in Chisamba…

The Chisamba Magistrate Court has adjourned a case in which four people are accused of stealing 600 metres of box game wire fence valued at K62,000 from a local farm. Resident Magistrate Susan Magalashi adjourned the matter to May 20, 2026, for continued trial after hearing testimony from the first witness, Rodgers Chisambi, 67, the owner of Emro Farm. The accused are Stanley Moonga, who is charged with theft by servant, and his co-accused Andrew Chola, 33, Bornface Mwanza, 23, and Samson Mubita, 21, who are facing separate charges of theft contrary to Sections 278 and 272 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

The four are accused of stealing 600 metres of box game wire fencing valued at K62,000 between April 8 and 9, 2026. During testimony, Mr Chisambi told the court that he discovered the fence surrounding his farm had been cut and removed on the morning of April 9, 2026, after receiving a tip-off from a worker. He also discovered damage to 100 concrete-and-metal poles measuring 1.8 metres each, which supported the wire fence.

“It was on April 9 around 07:30 hours when my employee, Happy Limbanga, called informing me that the wire fence had been cut. At first, I thought it was just a small cut,” Mr. Chisambi said.

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Mr Chisambi said a Community Crime Prevention Unit (CCPU) member, Stephen Choongo, together with his team, investigated the matter and identified seven suspects. He said police arrested the four accused persons who are appearing in court, while three other suspects are still on the run. Mr Chisambi expressed disappointment that Stanley Moonga, whom he had known for a long time and hired as assistant farm manager in January 2026, was among the suspects.

“I am very disappointed that Stanley Moonga is mentioned among the suspects. He has helped me at the farm for a long time through piece work. After employing him, I was paying him K2,000 every month through mobile money,” he said. Mr Chisambi further explained that he employed Moonga, who was also a CCPU member, after thieves stole 23 goats from his farm last December while he was out of the country.

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