
EIGHT CONVICTED IN K4.1 MILLION EMERALD HEIST AS KITWE HIGH COURT HANDS DOWN 25-YEAR SENTENCES
Kitwe | March 1, 2026The Kitwe High Court has convicted and sentenced eight accused persons to 25 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for the offence of aggravated robbery, bringing to conclusion a matter arising from the theft of 361.20 kilograms of emeralds valued at K4,100,000. Nine accused persons had stood jointly charged with one count of aggravated robbery contrary to Section 294(1) of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. It was alleged that on October 7, 2018, at Lufwanyama District in Copperbelt Province, the accused persons, acting together and while armed with offensive weapons, stole emeralds belonging to Continental Mining Africa Company Limited. The charge further stated that, in the course of the robbery, violence was used or threatened against a mine security guard in order to overcome resistance. The accused first appeared before the High








