Three nabbed over suspected Cattle theft in…

Police in Chisamba District of Central Province have arrested three suspected cattle rustlers in connection with the theft of two herds of cattle and a calf all valued at K36, 000, in two separate incidents. Maxwell Ngulube,36, and Fredrick Banda ,37, both of Zambezi Ranching and Cropping (ZRC) were arrested on July 23,2026 after they stole a cow valued at K25, 000 belonging to Triangle Farm in Chisamba. Police also arrested Henry Chilukutu ,23, of Kamalamba village in Chief Chamuka’s area in Chisamba for stealing a cow and a calf brown in color, branded V7 and 7E valued at K11, 000 belonging to Karen Cheelo of Karen Farm in Chisamba.

Central Province Commissioner of Police Lemekani Chirwa confirmed the development in a statement to the media in Chisamba. Mr Chirwa said the first incident involving Ngulube and Banda happened between July 22 at around 10:00 hours and July 23 around 10: 00 hours at Triangle Farm in Chisamba. “On 23rd July,2026 at 18:00 hours the station received a report of stock theft from Mutumwa Zimba aged 43, a Chief Security Officer at Triangle Farm to the effect that one brown cow valued at K25,000 has been stolen by Maxwell Ngulube and Fredrick Banda,” Mr Chirwa said.

He said the suspects are reported to have invaded a paddock and stole a cow which they slaughtered and skinned within the area. Mr Chirwa said Triangle Farm Chief Security Officer Mutumwa Zimba and herdsman Dennis Sibalwa found a missing animal slaughtered and partially dismembered by a wire snare after a head count of 257 livestock on July 23. “Brief facts are that Mutumwa Zimba on 22nd July 2026, at 10:00 hours with herdsman Denis Sibalwa counted the cattle and all 257 were intact and were released for grazing within the paddock, ” Mr Chirwa said.

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It is alleged that Zimba and Sibalwa, laid an ambush and apprehended Ngulube after spotting him approach the carcass and began to skin it. M Chirwa said the interrogation of Ngulube led to the arrest of his co-accused, Banda. He added that officers found more parts of the carcass during a search at Ngulube’s house which they took together with the initial carcass to the Chisamba Police Station where the matter was reported.

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