Mon, 13 Mar 2017 10:41:14 +0000
By KALOBWE BWALYA
SOME drivers in Lusaka have urged RTSA to intensify night patrols to unearth more scams in which some unscrupulous people were masquerading as its officers.
In an interview with the Daily Nation, Jackson Mwanza said he had been a victim of a RTSA impersonators who demanded money from him after it was found his vehicle did not have a fitness certificate.
Mr Mwanza said the fake RTSA officers mounted road blocks in the night at awkward places such as roads leading to Kanyama, Chaisa, Makeni and Linda compounds.
Another victim Lucky Kalumba said the bold thieves also mounted road blocks on the Great North Road in the Katuba area.
“They mount road blocks using private vehicles but with identity cards from the agency and they put on RTSA reflector vests and other identities and if
you don’t have the necessary documentation they will ask for money or threaten to lock you up,” he said.
Last week RTSA warned of a scam in which some unscrupulous people were masquerading as RTSA officers and harassing motorists.
This came in the wake of the arrest of a Lusaka man who was allegedly extorting money from members of the public by purporting to be a RTSA officer, when in fact not.
RTSA head of public relations Frederick Mubanga said Arnold Malikita, 33, of John Laing compound in Lusaka was arrested last week at the RTSA’s Dedani Kimathi offices where he was masquerading as second-in-command of the agency.
Mr Mubanga said Malikita had been charged with impersonation and obtaining money by false pretences.
“It is alleged that Malikita, who was released on parole on 23rd September 2016 for obtaining money by false pretences using the name Cris Kakoma, received K5,000 from a man only identified as Pastor James and K3,000 from the pastor’s friend.
“Further, it is alleged that Malikita received K2,000 from an unsuspecting female as part payment for the sale of motor vehicles,” said Mr Mubanga.
Mr Mubanga said Malikita allegedly told people that the Ministry of Transport had directed RTSA to auction motor vehicles whose owners failed to pay customs duty at border posts of which he was in-charge and some victims were made to make part-payments for the auction sale.
