Southern Province Police Commanding Officer, Moono Namalongo, has disclosed that police in Itezhi-Tezhi District have arrested a ZESCO worker in connection with the theft of workshop equipment valued at K117,208.50.

Mr Namalongo says Itezhi-Tezhi Police Station received a report at about 07:30 hours on January 24, 2026, from ZESCO Mechanical Engineer, Chibele Mweemba, 32, of Kataba Township, who reported the matter on behalf of ZESCO Itezhi-Tezhi Office.

He adds that the stolen items include an Afrox welding machine, a portable battery charging machine, and two 12-volt batteries.

ZANIS reports that according to Mr Namalongo, the theft is believed to have occurred between December 2024 and December 2025 at the ZESCO Itezhi-Tezhi Station Workshop.

He explained that following the report, police instituted investigations and executed search warrants at the homes of employees operating from the workshop.

Mr Namalongo said a portable battery charging machine valued at K62,850 was recovered from the residence of the Station Mechanic, Mac Mulilo.

“The suspect admitted to having taken an Afrox welding machine, which was later recovered from the workshop and valued at K48,500,” Mr Namalongo said.

He added that investigations revealed that there was no entry in the workshop registered to indicate the removal or return of the equipment.

“Following the report, police instituted investigations and executed search warrants at the homes of employees working from the workshop, investigations further revealed that there was no record in the workshop register to show the removal and return of the equipment,” he added.

Mr Namalongo confirmed that Mr Mulilo has since been detained in police custody and charged with theft by public servant, while investigations are continuing to recover the remaining items.