Mobile-money agent in Chingola arrested after gambling away K97,000 of clients’ funds

A 37-year-old mobile money agent in Chingola has been arrested and charged after allegedly diverting K97,000 (≈ €4,300) from nine clients to place online bets on the Aviator platform and then reporting a fake armed robbery to cover his tracks.

Police in the Copperbelt Province said that the suspect, identified as Obby Chishala, worked as a super-agent for Lamba Zambia Limited, supplying float to smaller mobile-money agents. Between 1 and 4 November 2025 he allegedly collected a total of K97,000 from nine agents for this purpose but instead used it for betting.

According to the police, Chishala later claimed he had been robbed of K110,000 by three armed men in a black Mark X car while cycling in Mikiloni Township. The investigation, however, found the robbery claim to be false: the phone he said was stolen was recovered at his home and the bank account he claimed to use does not exist.

Police Commanding Officer Pathias Siandenge said that the SIM card of Chishala’s super-agent account was blocked after a shortfall of K50,000 was discovered, but clients were unaware of this suspension. The diversion of the K97,000 and its use on bets marks the alleged theft.

Chishala is currently detained at Chingola Central Police Station and faces charges of theft by agent and providing false information to a public officer. The case highlights growing concerns over the misuse of client funds in the mobile-money and online-betting environment in Zambia.