Former Copperbelt Police Commanding Officer Yuyi Mwala Charged over Alleged Copper Theft

Former Copperbelt Province Commanding Officer Yuyi Mwala and six others have been charged in connection with the alleged theft of 436 copper cathodes valued at approximately US$448,596.

Zambia Police Public Relations Officer Godfrey Chilabi says Mr. Mwala has been charged with one count of Theft by Public Servant.

Mr. Chilabi says police officers Patrick Muti and Boniface Nchimunya, Clerk of Court Obrian Chipunza, Magistrate Edward Banda and businessman Daniel Makina are among the other suspects charged in the matter.

He says the copper was allegedly being transported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to South Africa when the truck carrying the consignment was diverted into Zambia. The consignment was later recovered in the Mokambo area of Mufulira District between March 6 and March 9, 2026.

Mr. Chilabi says investigations established that after the copper was placed in police custody, it was allegedly released to a private individual through a fraudulent disposal process and later auctioned despite the owner having been identified.

He says all seven suspects have been charged and remain in police custody. They are expected to appear before court soon.