By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has disclosed that it has received 87 reports of suspected cases of corruption since the just ended General election.
ACC Spokesperson Queen Chibwe says out of the 87, 55 relate to high public interest cases while some of them involve politically exposed persons.
Ms Chibwe said that one of the high public interest cases involves a senior public official at a quasi-government institution in a matter involving the alleged purchase of 12 motor vehicles worth 33 million kwacha, which were used for campaigns.
“Commission is investigating a matter involving an alleged secret and illegal account at the Ministry of Finance purportedly used to siphon millions of kwacha, and also former senior Government officials at the Ministry of Health are being investigated for allegedly awarding contracts for the purchase of Covid-19 protective equipment to businessmen without following procedure,” she said.
Ms Chibwe said that this is a new case and is different from the Honey Bee matter.
She said the ACC is also investigating two former senior police officials for illegal trading of Mukula trees that were transported to unknown destinations.
“Other investigations involve officials at the Ministry of Local Government who were allegedly involved in illegal awarding of contracts for road-works worth over 10 million kwacha to two private companies which did not execute the works in central Province, the alleged illegal purchase of 6 houses in one of Lusaka’s low density areas and owning property which include a fleet of motor vehicles suspected to be proceeds of crime by a senior public official are under investigations,” she said.
Ms Chibwe said other cases under investigation include a former government official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who allegedly acquired 7 houses and other property suspected to be proceeds of crime in one of Lusaka’s low-density areas.
She said the Commission is also investigating one of the senior managers at the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ) for alleged abuse of company financial resources which were used to pay for school fees both locally and abroad worth over 1 million kwacha.
“The commission is also investigating a former ward councilor of Lusaka for suspicious purchase of a named Bank together with all of the bank’s assets worth 300 million kwacha, we are also investigating officials at DMMU for allegedly buying an unknown number of Toyota Land Cruisers using Covid-19 funds and other resources meant for disaster relief for political activities in the last general election,” she said
Ms Chibwe said the commission will strive to remain impartial, careful and take decisive actions against Corruption as well as ensure that all cases are pursued to their logical conclusion.
