Lusaka, September 23, 2025 The Zambia Police Service has dismissed reports of suspected child trafficking at a Lusaka orphanage, describing them as false and misleading.
The allegations, which went viral on the Diamond TV Facebook page, claimed that a 12-year-old missing girl had been found at Mothers Without Borders orphanage in Lusaka West, where she was allegedly renamed “Tasila Lungu” and subjected to blood withdrawals for unknown purposes.
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said investigations by the Child Protection Unit (CPU) revealed that the juvenile had fabricated the abduction story following a domestic dispute with her mother.
“Interviews with the child, her parents and the orphanage authorities, as well as a review of the events surrounding her placement, established that there was no evidence of trafficking or ritual activity,” Mr. Hamoonga stated.
According to police findings, the girl had given inconsistent accounts of her background, at one point presenting herself as an orphan in order to secure admission into the facility. The name “Tasila Lungu” was never formally registered but was used informally as a nickname by orphanage staff. Blood samples taken at the facility were part of routine medical checks carried out on all children admitted.
Mr. Hamoonga cautioned members of the public and media houses against spreading unverified information, warning that those deliberately peddling falsehoods on sensitive matters such as child trafficking would face legal action.
He further appealed to parents and guardians to strengthen supervision and communication with their children to prevent unnecessary incidents that could put minors at risk.