Police in South Africa have issued an arrest warrant for a Zambian living in South Africa, suspected to have kidnapped another Zambian.

Douglas Dale Police Station in Johannesburg are investigating Aissata Mwila of Passport no; ZN 251393 for her alleged involvement in the kidnapping and disappearance of a Zambian national, Jeffrey Musonda, 50, of Itawa, Ndola.

This is according to a statement issued by Zambia First Secretary for Press at Zambia’s High Commission to South Africa Naomi Nyawali.

“Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, His Excellency Emmanuel Mwamba said it was regrettable that a Zambian national was named and involved in a dangerous kidnapping and extortion ring. He said he was in touch with the Police and the family to help trace Mr Musonda. Police stated that Aissata Mwila 26years, has previously been involved in two other kidnapping and extortion cases which the Police have been investigating. Mr Musonda disappeared on 4th August 2018. He is alleged to have been lured by Aissata Mwila who it is alleged that he befriended on social media,” Nyawali stated.

“Aissata Mwila is alleged to have invited Mr Musonda to her house in Primrose Johannesburg. The Police say the scam works by a woman luring a man to her house and then the ‘husband’ turns up finds them. The enraged husband then demands money from the victim. Police say Mr Musonda was made to withdraw R10,000.00 that night and family members were later contacted and they also made a deposit of another R10,000.00. Police say bank video footage shows the money being withdrawn by a male suspect.”

She stated Mwila and her husband disappeared shortly after being interviewed by police, promoting them to issue an arrest warrant.

Since August, there has been no trace of Mr Musonda. Mr Musonda was in South Africa to celebrate his 50th birthday Anniversary. Police interviewed Aissata Mwila and her husband shortly after this but the duo have since disappeared prompting the Police to issue an arrest warrant. The Police have also advised the family to publish the case of missing person in national newspapers in South Africa and Zambia. Mr Mwamba said the High Commission to wrote to the South African to help especially in the fresh case of Mr Musonda,” stated Nyawali.

“He also said that he feared for the life of Aissata Mwila as she was connected to a dangerous ring and since police had identified her, she was the only lead to the other suspects. He appealed to Aissata Mwila to willfully surrender to the Police and help give information that would help find Mr Musonda.”