Over 80 people in Luanshya district have been allegedly swindled out of money in excess of K800 000 by a Faith Based Organization, Deliverance Helpers International (DHI ), whose offices have since been deserted.
Over 80 people have allegedly paid money to DHI which was accommodated at a named church, as investment premiums in which they were to realize profits of up to four times the money invested.
A group of people stormed ZANIS offices in Luanshya yesterday appealing for government intervention in the matter, which they claimed had been reported to both the police and the District Commissioner’s offices respectively.
One of the scam victims, Jackline Kabuta explained that she invested K5, 000 on 9th November, 2020 and was supposed to receive K21 000 in February but that DHI offices have since closed down.
“DHI had been postponing payment of our money saying they were still paying out in other provinces but later end of May this year we discovered that it was just a scam when we saw that the officers have fled the DHI offices which are always locked, they do not pick up our phone calls, they have also closed down their Facebook page and we have no means of locating them, but we are aware that they have collected money from people like us in in all towns of the Copperbelt and also Kabwe and Lusaka as well”, Ms Kabuta said.
Another victim, Astridah Chishimba, a student said she invested K18 000 to multiply her college fees but has since dropped out of school due to nonpayment of school fees.
Antony Chilekwa, a farmer from Mpongwe said he invested K5000, on December 15th, 2020 under the farmers package and expected to get K25 thousand in February, 2021.
Mr Chilekwa said he was asked to collect his profit on the last Monday of February, 2021 but that to his dismay he discovered that the whole investment plan was a scam.
The scam victims said they have made attempts to visit their neighboring DHI offices in Kitwe and Ndola but that all the offices have since been vacated.
And DHI Luanshya Branch Manager, Saviour Chiibili, who confirmed the closure of the offices said that he was not in the position to give any comment on the matter and directed further queries to Flemmings Hamaseele, the National Coordinator.
Efforts to reach the company National Coordinator, and the founder, Sydney Muyamba Mwiinga proved futile as their phones were switched off.
