Arrest widens in Livingstone immigration probe
Police have arrested Lutangu Masheke, the brother of a senior immigration officer already in custody, in connection with an alleged attempt to help a lawyer leave Zambia irregularly. The arrest adds a second figure to an investigation that began earlier this week at the Victoria Falls Border Control in Livingstone.
Lutangu Masheke was apprehended in Choma and taken to Livingstone Central Police Station on Tuesday night, according to a police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity. The officer said Lutangu is being held to assist with ongoing inquiries, adding, "We will update you."
His brother, Masheke Masheke, is a 39-year-old Senior Immigration Officer based at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport. He was detained earlier this week at the same police station, according to the Department of Immigration, which confirmed the incident.
Alleged attempt at border crossing
The case centres on an incident in the early hours of Monday at the Victoria Falls Border Control in Livingstone. The Department of Immigration said preliminary investigations indicate that Masheke attempted to irregularly facilitate the exit of Jonas Zimba, a lawyer, from Zambia.
The attempt was reportedly detected by Immigration and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) officers on duty at the border. As officers approached, Zimba allegedly fled towards Livingstone, the department said.
Masheke has since been detained at Livingstone Central Police Station to assist with investigations. The department said serious investigations are ongoing and that appropriate action will be taken once they have been concluded.
Legal status and continued detention
Masheke currently faces a charge of abuse of authority of office for allegedly attempting to facilitate Zimba's exit, according to an immigration officer who spoke on condition of anonymity. That officer said Masheke may be detained longer than initially expected because several questions surrounding his dealings with Zimba remain unanswered.
Police have not said whether Lutangu Masheke faces any charges, and the police officer who confirmed his arrest did not specify the exact nature of his alleged involvement.
The Department of Immigration has not commented publicly on the arrest of Lutangu Masheke, and the source of the department's confirmation about the initial incident was not identified in the reporting.
Ongoing investigation
Authorities have provided no timeline for the conclusion of the investigation, and neither the Department of Immigration nor police have indicated what steps might follow.
The case has drawn attention to procedures at the Victoria Falls Border Control, a key crossing point between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Both Masheke Masheke and his brother remain in police custody as of the latest reports.