Chunga resident sentenced to six months for impersonating prison officer in job scam

A resident of Chunga compound in Lusaka has been sentenced to six months in prison for impersonating a prison officer.

Francis Kaira, 40, falsely presented himself as an employee of the Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) and promised to secure a job for Sarafina Lungu in exchange for K12,000.

The court heard that Lungu, who had previously applied for a job at the ZCS but was unsuccessful, was approached by Kaira, who promised to recruit her in exchange for payment.

However, it was later discovered that the recruitment was a scam.

In his defence, the accused claimed he was not aware Lungu was looking for a job but admitted knowing her and that they had been communicating.

Lusaka Magistrate Mutinta Mwenya found Kaira guilty of impersonation, stating that he had misrepresented himself as a correctional service employee to exploit a desperate job seeker.

The court rejected Kaira’s defence, calling it a mere afterthought.

In mitigation, Kaira claimed to be a family breadwinner with five children, a pregnant wife and dependent parents and grandparents.

However, Magistrate Mwenya emphasised the seriousness of the offense, stating that impersonating a civil servant undermined the reputation of government, and that it would not be condoned.

The offense carries a maximum sentence of seven years.

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