ZAMBIA RAILWAYS LIMITED APPREHEND 19 PEOPLE, 7 OF WHICH ARE JUVENILES FOR VANDALISM OF RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE MATERIALS
KABWE, 26th September, 2024 – Zambia Railways Limited has apprehended 19 people for vandalizing rail infrastructure materials from various parts of the country.
The culprits were apprehended by the Zambia Railways Police with the help of the Zambia Police Service and members of the community
Of the 19 suspects arrested in the month of September,2024 , 7 were juveniles ,3 from Batoka and 4 from Livingstone , 4 scrap metal dealers from Batoka and Livingstone and 8 other vandals, 6 nabbed in Kafue and 2 nabbed in Ndola and Chingola respectively.
Some of the stolen rail materials include ; pandrol clips, steel sleepers, pieces of cut rails, rail fastening components among other rail infrastructure materials valued at K161,162.00
Zambia Railways Limited has continued to lose colossal sums of money in repairs and replacement costs as a result of theft and vandalism of rail materials.
The Company would like to warn would be offenders 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.
ZRL reiterates the need for concerted efforts from all stakeholders especially members of the community to be vigilant and report any suspicious persons or activities on or near the railway infrastructure to ZRL Offices or the nearest Police Station.
In view of the incidents of theft and vandalism cases, ZRL working with the civic leaders has continued to undertake community sensitization activities along the line of rail, aimed at raising awareness and addressing incidents of vandalism which negatively impacts on safe train operations.
Original Copy Signed
Issued by:
Sombe Longwani Ng’onga
Public Relations Manager
Email: sombe.longwani@zrl.com.zm
