A viral social media post claims that former Copperbelt Police Commissioner Yuyi Mwala was arrested for stealing six trucks of copper worth US$75,000 each. iVerify Zambia found the claim to be misleading. While Mwala has indeed been arrested and charged, official Zambia Police Service records show the case relates to the alleged theft and fraudulent disposal of 436 copper cathodes valued at approximately US$448,596, not the theft of six trucks of copper.
Claim
On 29 July 2026, a Facebook page called The Zambian Whistleblower published a post claiming that former Copperbelt Police Commissioner Yuyi Mwala had been arrested for the theft of six trucks of copper, each allegedly valued at US$75,000, and was being transported from Lusaka to Mufulira in connection with the case.
Disclaimer: In line with responsible fact-checking practice, iVerify Zambia has not included a direct link to the misleading social media post to avoid amplifying false or misleading information.
Verdict: Misleading
The claim misrepresents the nature of the charges brought against former Copperbelt Police Commissioner Yuyi Mwala. While he has indeed been arrested and charged, the offences do not relate to the alleged theft of six trucks of copper as claimed in the viral post.
Verification
iVerify Zambia reviewed an official statement issued by the Zambia Police Service through its Public Relations Officer, Godfrey Chilabi. The statement confirms that Yuyi Mwala is among six individuals who have been jointly charged following investigations into the alleged theft and unlawful disposal of 436 copper cathodes recovered in the Mokambo area of Mufulira District between 6 and 9 March 2026.
According to the Zambia Police Service, Mr. Mwala has been charged with one count of Theft by Public Servant. The other accused persons face charges that include Theft by Public Servant, Giving False Information to a Public Officer, and Receiving Property Suspected to Have Been Stolen.
Police allege that the 436 copper cathodes, valued at approximately US$448,596, were initially recovered and placed in police custody before being unlawfully released to a private individual through an alleged fraudulent disposal process.
The official statement does not state that Mr. Mwala was arrested for stealing six trucks of copper valued at US$75,000 each. Instead, the investigation centres on the alleged theft and fraudulent disposal of 436 copper cathodes recovered during the police operation.
Although Mr. Mwala has been arrested and is expected to appear before court alongside the other accused persons, the viral social media post inaccurately describes both the nature of the alleged offence and the value of the property involved.
Conclusion
The claim is misleading. It is accurate that former Copperbelt Police Commissioner Yuyi Mwala has been arrested and charged. However, the viral post falsely claims that he was arrested for stealing six trucks of copper worth US$75,000 each.
The official Zambia Police Service statement confirms that the case relates to the alleged theft and fraudulent disposal of 436 copper cathodes valued at approximately US$448,596, not six trucks of copper. The social media post therefore misrepresents the facts of the case and has the potential to mislead the public about the charges before the court.
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