A tobacco farmer in Kasungu district Sunday cried foul after unidentified criminal at the Boma robbed him of about K139, 000 cash which was part of the money he had earned after selling his tobacco to a businessman in the district.
Kasungu Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Andrew Gada confirmed the development to Mana saying the criminals were still at large.
According to Gada, the farmer, Thomas Zimba who had put the whole amount in a bag, when he met his fate at a bicycle repairer where he mended his newly bought bicycle.
He said Zimba, 38, on Saturday March 29, had sold his barley tobacco valued at K153, 500 to one of the businessmen within Kasungu town.
"The businessman collected the tobacco at the farmers’ backyard in Sub-Traditional Authority Mphomwa’s area in the district with an agreement that he pays him in town the following day," Gada said, adding that indeed Zimba on Sunday March 30 got his dues which he packed in his bag.
The Police Publicist then said immediately Zimba got his money he went straight to SANA shop where he bought a cell phone and a bicycle at K6, 500 and K12, 500 respectively.
He said thereafter Zimba took the bicycle to a bicycle repair for fixing so that he could ride it as it had loose spokes and deflated tyres among others.
"It was while he was busy monitoring the process when unidentified criminals suddenly snatched the bag that had about K139, 500 from him and disappeared into a nearby bush," he said.
Gada said police have since intensified the search for the culprits who will answer the charge of robbery with violence contrary to section 301 of the penal code once apprehended.
However the police are warning farmers against moving with a lot of hard cash for fear of being robbed.
This year’s tobacco sales have seen tobacco farmers getting exited with high tobacco prices at the auction floors which at the commencement of the sales hit US 11 Dollars, about K1, 540 per kilogram compared to about K266 per kg last year during the same period.
Zimba hails from John village in the area of Sub-chief Mphomwa in the district.
Mana
