By Cecilia Chiluba/Zambia/Lusaka
The Anti-Corruption Commission in Zambia has arrested and charged two officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock for corruption.
This involves alleged misappropriation of over K192.6, under the Sustainable Livestock Infrastructure Management Project (SLIMP) loan obtained from the African Development Bank.
According to a statement issued by Commission Acting Head of Corporate Communications, Chilufya Chisanga, the arrests bring the total number of suspects in the case to ten.
The two officials have been identified as Succeed Mubanga, Director of Policy, Planning and Information, and Michael Ndala Malesu, Assistant Human Resource Management Officer.
Ms. Chisanga stated that Mr. Mubanga, aged 49, has been charged with multiple offences, including attempts and conspiracies to defraud, false accounting by a public officer, and corrupt acquisition of public property.
“Details are that Mr. Mubanga, acting jointly with other persons unknown, fraudulently facilitated the diversion of K 165,995,410.55 from the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock SLIMP account,” she said.
She added that investigations revealed that Mr. Mubanga also facilitated the retirement of over K6.8 million using false documents, claiming the funds were used for project activities.
“He has further been charged with possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime and is alleged to have acquired assets including a house, a farm in Chongwe and a motor vehicle,” Ms. Chisanga said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Malesu, aged 42, has been charged with corrupt acquisition of public property and theft involving over K2.2 million, which he allegedly obtained as imprest through his personal account.
The suspected proceeds of crime in his case are estimated at a total value of K1.5 million.
Ms. Chisanga noted that the arrests follow a comprehensive investigation into the misappropriation of part of the US$10 million SLIMP loan, which was intended for national livestock infrastructure development.
“The Commission wishes to inform members of the public that investigations into the Sustainable Livestock Infrastructure Management Project remain ongoing and more arrests are expected in due course,” she said.
The duo has since been released on bond and is expected to appear in court soon.
