Zambia Immigration bursts syndicate producing fake National Registration Cards, six arrested

Zambia’s Immigration authorities have dismantled a sophisticated identity fraud syndicate involved in the illegal acquisition and production of National Registration Cards (NRCs), leading to the arrest of six suspects across multiple districts.

Among those apprehended is Brave Nsamba, 42, an Assistant Registration Officer at the Mansa District National Registration Office, suspected of supplying materials for producing fraudulent NRCs.

Department of Immigration Chief Public Relations Officer, Namati Nshinka, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued in Lusaka on Saturday.

“The operation, which began on 24th July 2025, was triggered by the arrest of Hosea Kiai, 23, a Kenyan national found in Chipata’s Central Business District with a Zambian NRC,” Nshinka said.

Investigations revealed that the NRC number belonged to another individual, confirming Kiai was in possession of fraudulent documentation.

The probe later led officers to Mkushi, where Moses Mululu, 57, another Kenyan national, was arrested on 6th August 2025 after presenting a fake NRC. Mululu’s arrest led to the capture of Jack Banda, 61, a Zambian resident of Chipata Compound in Lusaka, believed to have procured NRCs for both Kiai and Mululu.

Banda’s arrest on August 8 at Cairo Mall was followed by the apprehension of Kakoma Nduli, 46, in Chipata Compound the same day.

“Further leads resulted in the arrest of Ephraim Chiyobeka, 53, on 11th August at the Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship (DNRPC) Headquarters in Lusaka,” Nshinka said.

A search of Chiyobeka’s home in Makeni Villa uncovered items suspected to have been used in the illegal production of NRCs, including:

• 903 authentic laminating pouches and four blank green NRC cards
• 114 photocopied green cards
• 27 photocopied pink cards for Commonwealth citizens
• 9 photocopied blue cards for non-Commonwealth citizens
• 17 NRCs (15 green, 2 pink), 41 passport photos, and two academic certificates.

“The sixth suspect, Nsamba, was arrested in Mansa on 15th August. Authorities allege he supplied official materials used in the fraudulent scheme,” Nshinka said.

All six suspects remain in custody pending further investigations. Preliminary findings suggest the syndicate charged foreign nationals fees to obtain fake Zambian identity documents.

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