Consular Section
U.S. Embassy - Lusaka, Zambia
The American Embassy
Corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues
Phone: (260)-1-250-955, Fax: (260)-1-252-225
E-mail: ConsularLusaka@state.gov
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On June 17, 2002 at approximately 10:00 AM, two people were killed and a Zambia police officer gravely injured during an armed robbery which occurred on Lumumba Road in Lusaka. According to police and press reports, the victims were enroute from a Mobil Oil service station on Los Angeles Rd. to make a bank deposit. The police officer was providing security. The armed robbers had apparently been trailing the vehicle in which the victims were traveling. On Lumumba Rd., somewhere near the Lusaka city market, the perpetrators overtook the victims' vehicle, blocking the road in front. One report indicated that the robbers fired automatic weapons into the vehicle before blocking the road. Once the victims vehicle was stopped, the robbers approached and sprayed it with several rounds from AK-47 rifles. Two occupants were killed at the scene. The police officer was shot in the head and his own weapon was stolen. The robbers made off with approximately 20 million Zambian Kwacha ($5000 USD). No arrests have been made to date.
The vast majority of crimes reported to the RSO are non-violent and even armed perpetrators historically have not harmed submissive victims. However, this incident is troubling because it may signal an increased willingness on the part of some criminals to resort to gunplay.
The incident is also disturbing because some U.S. citizens conduct business and travel along Lumumba Rd. and nearby streets. Like many large cities in the world, the "downtown" and industrial area of Lusaka, in which Lumumba Rd. is located, is a high crime area where thieves, pickpockets, car burglars, carjackers and armed robbers frequently operate. U.S. citizens should be extremely cautious if they cannot avoid, or choose not to avoid, the area. Even if you are not the direct target of a crime, an innocent bystander, caught in a crossfire of automatic rifles, is just as dead as the intended victim.
American citizens may also find the above information at: http://www.ds-osac.org or by following the links to Consular Affairs or the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) bulletin board at the following web sites: http://www.ds.state.gov and http://www.state.gov.
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For more information or comments, please contact James
Greene, Director of the American Center, on
Tel: (260)-1-227993/4 ; Fax: (260)-1-226523 ; E-Mail: embpas@zamnet.zm
All visa queries sent by e-mail should be directed to ConsularLusaka@state.gov
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