105 Views At least three Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock officials have been nabbed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for misappropriating of more than K8.8 million linked to the Sustainable Livestock Infrastructure Management Project (SLIMP). According to ACC, the arrests are part of ongoing probe into the alleged misuse of cash under the USD 10 […]

105 Views

At least three Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock officials have been nabbed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for misappropriating of more than K8.8 million linked to the Sustainable Livestock Infrastructure Management Project (SLIMP).

According to ACC, the arrests are part of ongoing probe into the alleged misuse of cash under the USD 10 million project.

This brings the total number of suspects arrested in the matter to 12.

In a statement, ACC said the officials are suspected to have misappropriated public funds meant for project implementation under the ministry.

Among those arrested is Grace Lungu, a 47 year old Principal Livestock Production Officer of Lilayi in Lusaka, who has been charged with 16 counts of fraudulent false accounting.

The ACC pointed that Lungu falsely accounted for imprest retirements amounting to K750,320.52, claiming the funds were used for intended project activities when they were not.

She has also been charged with two counts of possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime, involving a residential house in Chipata valued at K800,000 and a government bond worth K300,000.

Also arrested is Trohyb Hanyimbo, 42, a Senior Livestock Production Officer of Libala South, Lusaka, who has been charged with one count of corrupt acquisition of public property and revenue involving K1,984,071.

The ACC alleged that Hanyimbo fraudulently diverted the funds from SLIMP accounts within the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

Meanwhile, Kabemba Mwambilwa, 48, an Assistant Director from Palabana in Chongwe, has also been charged with one count of corrupt acquisition of public property and revenue involving K3,888,534.51.

The Commission shared that Mwambilwa similarly diverted funds from various SLIMP accounts.

The ACC says investigations into the matter are ongoing.