Kabwe | November 14, 2025 – Joseph Chiteta, a 53-year-old former paramilitary officer, stood mere months from completing his 20-year sentence for aggravated robbery when prison authorities granted him “trustee” status. On November 11, 2025, that trust ended in life imprisonment as the Kabwe High Court sentenced him for the murders of Priscilla Kafumbo, Elizabeth Kazadi, Naomi Namulukwa, Virginia Chanda, Doreen Nyambe, Janice Jani, and Mwanangombe Situmbeko – seven women he killed while enjoying unsupervised prison privileges.
The convict admitted to systematically exploiting his position to access prison visitor records, using this information to identify and lure vulnerable women with false promises of assisting their incarcerated relatives. He later led investigators to their remains at Egypt Venture Farm, where he worked as a trustee inmate.
“The evidence presented left no doubt about the systematic nature of these crimes,” stated State Advocate Patience Phiri Chila, who led the prosecution team comprising State Advocates Malama Chisenga and Lubosi Kikamba, alongside Senior Public Prosecutor Craig Ngoma.
In delivering the sentence, Kabwe High Court Judge-in-Charge Kelvin Limbani directed the Correctional Service to review trustee inmate protocols, acknowledging systemic failures that enabled Chiteta’s crimes.
Outside the courthouse, the daughters of one victim expressed mixed emotions. “We had to drop out of school after our mother’s murder,” said Lilian Nakambo and Hellen Kaomba, “but today’s verdict finally brings us some peace and allows us to begin rebuilding our lives.”
The case against co-accused Miles Malaya, who pleaded not guilty, continues with trial set for February 11-13, 2026.
In a separate development, Chiteta also faced charges before the Ndola High Court for crimes committed after his escape from custody on May 23, 2020, including the rape of an 18-year-old girl and the murder of a mother and infant. These charges form part of a distinct criminal spree unrelated to this conviction.
The National Prosecution Authority remains committed to upholding the rule of law. The remaining accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
