Three-month-old infant stolen at Lusaka market found

The Zambia Police Service says a three-month-old female infant allegedly stolen from her mother in Lusaka’s City Market area has been found and reunited with her mother.

Police Assistant Public Relations Officer, Chipo Kaitisha, said the incident occurred on October 9, 2026, at around 14:00 hours when Beatrice Lengalenga, a resident of Katondo area in Kabwe District, was allegedly lured to Lusaka by an unidentified woman who purported to offer her employment.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday, Kaitisha said upon arriving at City Market, Lengalenga, accompanied by her infant and the woman, went to a salon where the mother was offered hairdressing services.

She said while the mother was having her hair done, the woman offered to hold and look after the infant before allegedly fleeing with the child without the mother’s consent.

“Upon receiving the report, officers immediately launched investigations and employed intelligence-gathering techniques to establish the whereabouts of the suspect and the missing infant,” Kaitisha said.

She said investigations led to the identification of a possible location in the Kabangwe area of Lusaka.

Acting on intelligence, police officers proceeded to the area, where they located two suspects identified as Clara Mumba, 23, of 20 Miles area, and Gift Chileshe, 30, of 6 Miles area, both in Lusaka.

Kaitisha said preliminary information indicated that when officers approached the residence to effect an arrest, the suspects allegedly resisted.

“Clara Mumba, who was reportedly armed with a kitchen knife, allegedly threw the knife at officers while Gift Chileshe attempted to flee,” Kaitisha said.

She said officers discharged warning shots, but the suspects reportedly remained uncooperative, prompting them to fire two rounds that struck the suspects in their legs.

Kaitisha said the two suspects were taken to the University Teaching Hospital, where they were receiving medical treatment and were reported to be in stable condition.

“The child has since been reunited with her mother and taken to the University Teaching Hospital for medical attention,” she said.

Kaitisha said investigations into the matter were ongoing and that further updates would be provided.

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