NDOLA MAN JAILED NINE YEARS FOR THEFT OF RAILWAY MATERIALS
PRESS RELEASE
(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)
NDOLA MAN JAILED NINE YEARS FOR THEFT OF RAILWAY MATERIALS
Lusaka, 18th June , 2025 – The Ndola High Court has sentenced Christopher Mwape, aged 34, of Pamodzi Extension in Ndola, to nine years imprisonment with hard labour for theft of One Hundred and Sixteen (116) pandrol clips valued at K7, 540.00, property of Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL)which were stolen from the railway line between Ndola and Kaniki Section.
On Thursday 12th May 2025, Ndola High Court Judge Daniel Musonda, found Christopher Mwape guilty of the offence.
Facts of the matter are that on 19th September 2024, Mwape was apprehended by members of the community after he was found with the pandrol clips. Pandrol clips are also called elastic clips . They are responsible for fastening the rail to the concrete sleeper so the rail cannot move vertically or horizontally with respect to the concrete sleepers.
Meanwhile, a 30-year-old man of Lusaka, Gibson Munkombwe was on Friday, 13th June 2025, apprehended by Zambia Railways Police Officers for stealing railway components between Lusaka and Ngwerere section.
The suspect was caught after he was found loading a pair of a fishplate and was taken to Ngwerere Police Post.
Further, a team of Zambia Railways Police officers proceeded to the Police post and confirmed the recovered item as a fishplate valued at K2, 900.00 and a property of the company.
During interrogations, the suspect led officers to the crime scene, where three additional fishplates, hidden in the bush, were recovered. The recovered items were valued at K8, 700.00. The suspect admitted having removed the fishplates on Sunday, 8th June 2025.
Furthermore, investigations led to a scrap metal dealer where a 1-metre piece of rail, valued at K6, 673.00, was recovered. Two more suspects, David Chipikauka (20) and a juvenile aged 15 were also apprehended to assist with the investigations.
In total, the following items were recovered: Four (4) fishplates worth K11, 600.00 one rail piece (1 metre) worth K6, 673.00 and the total value of the recovered railway materials was K18,273.00, all property of Zambia Railways Limited.
The three suspects were detained at Lusaka Central Police Station.
ZRL welcomes the judgment and the efforts of the Zambia Police Service in ensuring that perpetrators of such crimes are brought to book.
We appreciate the collaboration with law enforcement agencies in protecting our assets and promoting rail safety.
ZRL would like to warn would be offenders to desist from vandalizing railway property as they will face the full extent of the law.
Further, ZRL would like to advise members of the public that vandalism of rail infrastructure materials is a criminal offence which carries a fine and a prison sentence of up to 21 years with hard labour.
We urge members of the public to continue reporting any incidents of vandalism or theft to our security personnel or the nearest police station.
ZRL reiterates its commitment to safeguarding its infrastructure and ensuring the safety of train operations.
(Original copy signed)
Issued by:
Sombe Longwani Ng’onga
Manager Public Relations
Zambia Railways Limited
Email: sombe.longwani@zrl.com.zm
