By Arnold Tutu
The Anti-Corruption Commission –ACC- has arrested five more officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and slapped additional charges on three others in the ongoing investigation into the alleged misappropriation of more than K300 million.
The money was under the Sustainable Livestock Infrastructure Management Project -SLIMP.
ACC Acting Head-Corporate Communication CHILUFYA CHISANGA says the arrests stem from investigations into the suspected diversion of funds from the US$10 million project, which was intended to support livestock infrastructure development.
Among those facing additional charges are Accountant EMMANUEL CHILALA, Senior Livestock Production Officer ACKIM MWALILINO and Principal Livestock Research Officer HENRY SICHONE, who were earlier arrested in the same matter.
Ms. CHISANGA said Mr. CHILALA has been charged with two counts of corrupt acquisition of public property or revenue and one count of false accounting involving more than K136.5 million allegedly meant for project activities.
Mr. MWALILINO faces seven counts of corrupt acquisition of public property or revenue and one count of false accounting relating to more than K11.8 million.
Mr. SICHONE has been charged with four counts of corrupt acquisition of public property or revenue, four counts of false accounting and three counts of abuse of authority of office involving funds exceeding K17 million.
The ACC has also arrested Chief Accountant PHILIP KAMBOLE SIKAZWE, who faces charges of corrupt acquisition of public property, false accounting, abuse of authority of office and possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
According to Ms. CHISANGA, the charges against Mr. SIKAZWE involve alleged irregular transactions exceeding K39 million as well as properties and motor vehicles valued at K10.7 million.
Also arrested is SLIMP Project Coordinator ANDREW CHONGWE, who has been charged with corrupt acquisition of public property and abuse of authority of office involving more than K98 million.
Principal Accountant CLARA NKANDU MUONGA faces charges of corrupt acquisition of public property, false accounting and abuse of authority of office involving more than K15 million.
Accountant EMMANUEL MUTALE has been charged with one count of corrupt acquisition of public property or revenue involving K5.7 million, while Accountant FELIX SIBALWA faces seven counts of the same offence involving K3.3 million.
Ms. CHISANGA said Mr. SIKAZWE, Mr. CHONGWE, Ms. MUONGA, Mr. SICHONE and Mr. CHILALA have also each been charged with one count of attempts and conspiracies under the Anti-Corruption Act.
The Commission alleges that the accused persons, acting together with others yet to be identified, facilitated the diversion of K165.9 million from the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to a Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock SLIMP bank account.
Ms. CHISANGA said all eight suspects have since been released on bond and are expected to appear in court soon.
