Slain Kabwe Student Nurse's Phone Leads Police to Suspect

Central Province Police Commanding Officer Lemekani Chirwa says the Tecno phone belonging to Gladness Nambuka was recovered from a 21-year-old accountant student at Kwame Nkrumah University East Campus in Kabwe.

Nambuka and her live-in maid, Patricia Michelo, were allegedly murdered on August 8, 2026, before their bodies were dumped in a shallow well at their home in Luangwa Extension.

Mr Chirwa said police traced the phone through several people who had bought it before recovering it from the student, identified as Chisenga Aswell.

He said the phone was positively identified by 13-year-old Justina Sitali, a relative who was also living with the two deceased women.

Mr Chirwa said Aswell told police that he had bought the phone from his friend, 28-year-old Alick Mwale of Nagoli Compound.

Police later apprehended Mwale, who told investigators that he had purchased the phone from another person whom he could identify.

Mr Chirwa said Mwale led police to Mark Lupiya of Luangwa Compound, who in turn led investigators to a person identified as Chimwemwe Kaluba.

Kaluba is currently in police custody and has been subjected to DNA testing after police observed bruises on his body.

Mr Chirwa said police are awaiting the DNA results from Lusaka.

He added that three witnesses are able to identify the suspect, with an identification parade scheduled to take place at Kabwe Central Police Station.

The recovered cellphone has since been kept by police as an exhibit.

Nambuka and Michelo were found dead on August 8 after relatives returned from church and discovered that the two were missing.

A trail of blood at the residence led to a shallow well where their bodies were found.

Police earlier reported that the bodies had multiple deep cuts, while bloody bedsheets, a towel and pieces of clothing were also recovered from the scene.