PAMELA CHISUMPA: What is known so far as the search for the 22-year-old continues

IT IS now almost two weeks since 22-year-old Pamela Chisumpa disappeared from her business place on Cairo Road in Lusaka, only to appear – a few days later - in a video pleading for her life while her kidnappers lashed her with what appeared like a metal rod.

Her ordeal spread both fear and anger among many citizens not accustomed to such crimes.

Pamela was reported missing on April 16 by her sister.

But according to information, the young woman, who operated a mobile money booth, went missing on April 13, around 13:00 after two men approached her for a money transaction.

It is believed that the two men asked Pamela to follow them because the money they wanted to transact was huge.

The two men were later seen leaving the booth together with Pamela, and walked across Cairo Road. They were never seen again.

Those who were around to witness whatever could have happened only have a hazy recollection of events or the physical identities of the two men.

“I saw the men, it’s just that I cannot really describe them but if I was to see them, I can easily identify them,” says Mary Tembo, who is also a mobile money agent.

Her booth is just a few metres from Pamela’s. 

“I was here and one of them even stood here on my booth. When I asked him if he needed to transact, he said, no, I am with him [pointing to his friend who was talking to Pamela],” she says.

She says the whole ordeal has left her and other operators scared for their lives and safety.

“It was around 13:00 hours and we thought she would come back. We really hope she is alive. Let the abductors just release her safely,” she says.

A parking lot attendant working for the council, who sought anonymity, describes Pamela as “a very humble and quiet person” who does not deserve to go through what her abductors are making her go through.

She says Pamela kept a very small circle.

“She has very few friends, apart from her boyfriend [Richard Chanda] who is studying to be a nurse. She doesn’t drink or go out and never engaged in any illicit activities – so we are really shocked that this is happening to her,” the parking lot attendant told me.

Investigations instituted so far are indicating that on April 15, Pamela’s boyfriend, Richard Chanda, received a call from the victim’s phone demanding a ransom of K15,000 for her release.

When reached for comment, Mr Chanda refused to comment despite having earlier agreed to call me back with all the details.

“Like I said, I cannot share any information,” he told me. 

When asked to share contact details for any of Pamela’s relatives, he refused.

“I cannot share any information,” he said, before hanging up.

Apparently, Pamela’s case is not the only one.

Early this month, local television station Spring TV carried a story of abduction involving a female mobile money agent, together with her three-year-old daughter.

Both the girl and her mother had been missing since March 17, 2022. It was not until after two weeks that the daughter showed up around Chris Corner area in Chilenje and revealed that her mother had been abducted by unknown people.

Filtress Mwiluti, sister of the missing woman told Spring TV that her sister’s life is in danger after she was abducted on March 17 together with her daughter after knocking off. She also operated a mobile money booth in the Kamwala shopping area.

In a statement released recently, inspector general of Police Lemmy Kajoba said the police will use every resource at their disposal to ensure a safe release of the victim.

“We would like to inform the public that this type of crime is alien to our country. The Zambia Police takes protection of women against any form of crime very serious and we have put in all our resourcese clock to have her released from the alleged abductors.” and are working with other collaborating partners to secure a possible safe release from the allegedly abductors,” he said.

He added: “We are calling on the general citizenry to fully cooperative with us as we work round th

The story of Pamela has got many people talking, many suggesting ways to prevent such crimes in future.

As the police continue to carry out investigations, people have weighed in with suggestions of how national security can be enhanced, in order to make it easier to not only track down people, but also make it easy to investigate such cases.

Former Road Transport and Safety Agency chief executive officer Zindaba Soko suggested that it’s high time the country moved from a physical national ID card to a biometric one.

“…meaning that all registered nationals and non-nationals must have their identities attached to their fingerprints,” he said. “This system eliminates double or replicated registrations, provides an easier way to carry out demographics and easy provision of Government services and eliminate ghost citizens.”

Precious Daka, a computer expert said once it goes digital, Government should also consider issuance of national registration cards (NRC) during the issuance of birth certificates.

“…and not the current arrangement were one can even alter the picture on the NRC,” he says.

In March this year, Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Jack Mwiimbu told Parliament in a ministerial statement that work to put in place a new biometric ID system, dubbed the Integrated National Registration Information System (INRIS), has started, with the biometrics of at least 15,000 Zambians already captured for that purpose.

Mr Mwiimbu said the biometric ID documents to be issued under the INRIS scheme include national registration cards, as well as birth and death certificates.

“The INRIS will assign a national identity number at birth as opposed to when a citizen is 16 years old. This will make it very difficult for any ineligible person to register as a Zambian citizen,” said Mr Mwiimbu.

He added that the new biometrics-based ID system is intended to replace the old one which has been in place since 1965. The manual and paper-based system is said to have many vulnerabilities which make it easy for foreigners and criminals to exploit.

Days after the suspected abduction of Pamela, the booth from which she operated remains closed for business. Her colleagues who operate from the same busy spot hope one day she will return.

This article was also published on page 10 of the Zambia Daily Mail newspaper of April 24, 2022 on this link http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/pamela-chisumpa-what-is-known-so-far/