TWO MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, LIVESTOCK OFFICIALS ARRESTED FOR CORRUPTION INVOLVING OVER K192.6 MILLION

The Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested and charged two officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock for corruption involving over ZMW 192.6million, in connection with the ongoing investigations into the Sustainable Livestock Infrastructure Management Project (SLIMP) Loan, bringing the total number of arrests in the matter to ten (10).

The arrests follow a comprehensive probe into the gross misappropriation of part of USD$10miilion project funds, intended for national livestock infrastructure development.

Mr. Succeed Mubanga (Director of Policy, Planning and Information)

Mr. Mubanga, aged 49, of House No. 23746/M, Silverest, Lusaka has been charged with one (1) count of Attempts and Conspiracies, contrary to Section 40(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012 of the Laws of Zambia. Details being that Mr. Mubanga, acting jointly with other persons unknown, fraudulently facilitated the diversion of ZMW 165,995,410.55 from the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock SLIMP bank account.

In addition, he has been charged with one (1) count of Corrupt Acquisition of Public Property or Revenue, contrary to Section 34 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012 of the Laws of Zambia. He is alleged to have corruptly and unlawfully acquired several sums of money amounting to ZMW 17,590,263.68 intended for project activities.

Further, Mr. Mubanga has been charged with one (1) count of False Accounting by a Public Officer, contrary to Section 327 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. Investigations have established that Mr. Mubanga facilitated the retirement of the total sum of ZMW 6,853,124.59 using false documents, claiming the funds were used for SLIMP project activities.

Mr. Succeed Mubanga, was previously arrested by the Commission last month and charged with two (2) counts of possession of properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Michael Ndala Malesu (Assistant Human Resource Management Officer)

‍

Mr. Malesu, aged 42, of Longridge Junction, Chilanga, has been charged with one (1) count of Corrupt Acquisition of Public Property and Revenue, contrary to Section 34(1)(b) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012, of the Laws of Zambia, involving the theft of ZMW 2,209,346.69, which he allegedly drew as imprest through his personal account from various Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock SLIMP accounts.

He has further been charged with three (3) counts of Possession of Property Reasonably Suspected to be Proceeds of Crime, contrary to Section 71 of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010.
The suspected proceeds of crime estimated at a total value of ZMW1,5million include a house, a farm in Chongwe and a motor vehicle.

The duo has since been released on bond and will appear before court soon.

The Commission wishes to inform members of the public that investigations into the Sustainable Livestock Infrastructure Management Project (SLIMP) remain ongoing, and more arrests are expected in due course.

‍