What began as a routine traffic assignment in Lusaka’s upscale Woodlands turned into a gripping action scene yesterday, as Inspector General of Police Graphel Musamba personally led a high-speed chase to save a kidnapped officer.
The incident unfolded around 16:45 hours when Traffic Officer Getrude Nkonde, 38, rushed to Latitude 15 Degrees, a luxury restaurant in Woodlands, after a white Toyota Land Cruiser crashed into a Mitsubishi Pajero owned by 44-year-old Kabulonga resident Paul Chisunka.
Nkonde, after assessing the scene, determined the Land Cruiser driver, Jackson Chilemena, 45, was at fault. She instructed him—along with his wife and colleague, who were present—to proceed to Woodlands Police Station to file statements. She boarded the vehicle to accompany them.
Instead of complying, Chilemena sped off with Nkonde trapped inside. Realising she was being abducted, the officer desperately signaled for help through the window.
By sheer coincidence, Inspector General Graphel Musamba’s convoy happened to be driving past. Spotting the distress, Musamba immediately ordered a U-turn and launched into pursuit, turning Lusaka’s usually calm Woodlands–Kabulonga roads into an impromptu race track.
The dramatic chase ended near Fairview in Kabulonga, where Musamba’s team cornered the runaway Land Cruiser, bringing it to a grinding halt. Officers swiftly rescued a shaken but safe Nkonde and apprehended Chilemena, his wife Nancy Milambwe, 35, and friend Patrick Kalenga, 35.
The trio was taken to Woodlands Police Station, where they spent the night in custody facing possible abduction charges.
Onlookers were left in awe of Musamba’s swift action, with some remarking that if a rank above Inspector General existed, he would have surely earned it.
