The Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested Director and Shareholder of Savenda Group of Companies Clever Mpoha, for corrupt practices involving US $927,448.00
Mpoha, of flat F104 Bank of Zambia Flats in Fairview, Lusaka, has been arrested and charged with three counts of corrupt practices. Mpoha is a Shareholder and Director of two other companies namely Eagle Trading International and African Security Academy (ASA) of Zambia.
Public Relations Manager Timothy Moono said the arrest comes in the wake of a contract which was single sourced and signed between the Ministry of Defence and African Security Academy (ASA) of Poland for the financing and purchase of military uniforms for the Zambia National Service at a contract sum of US$47million.
Mr Moono said investigations have revealed that Mpoha’s company, African Security Academy was the representative here in Zambia of the parent African Security Academy of Poland and financial transactions were facilitated through Mpoha’s other company Eagle Trading International.
He said in the first count, Mpoha has been arrested and charged with corrupt transaction by a private person.
Mr Moono said investigations have revealed that between March, 1 2018 and June 30, 2018, Mpoha, through his company Eagle Trading International, attempted to pay US $200,000 into the bank account of the Australian owners of Simonga Farm in Chikankata District, for and on behalf of Mr Sturdy Mwale, former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, as part payment for the purchase of the said farm.
And in count two Mpoha was arrested and charged with corrupt practices by private persons.
He said that Mpoha, through his Eagle Trading International, offered and actually paid US $200,000 into a bank account for the Australian owners of Simonga Farm on behalf of Sturdy Mwale as part payment for the purchase of Simonga Farm by Sturdy Mwale.
The payment was an inducement or reward for Sturdy Mwale for having facilitated the signing of the contract for the supply of military uniforms for the Zambia National Service.
And in the third count, Mpoha has been arrested and charged with possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Details are that Mpoha, being a shareholder and Director in African Security Academy, did receive a total of US $527,448, funds which were fraudulently paid by the Ministry of Finance as part payment of the arrangement fees for the delivery of the subject contract. The funds were paid by the Ministry of Finance outside the budget line despite the fact that the contract was to be financed by the supplier of the uniforms.
Mpoha is expected to appear in court soon.
