MCDSS Welcomes Arrest of Three Officers Over Alleged K16.7 Million Social Cash Transfer Misuse

The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) has welcomed the arrest and charging of three of its officers in Itezhi-Tezhi District over the alleged misuse of K16.794 million in funds linked to Zambia’s Social Cash Transfer (SCT) Programme. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested District Social Welfare Officer Goretty Moonga, 39, and Assistant […]

The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) has welcomed the arrest and charging of three of its officers in Itezhi-Tezhi District over the alleged misuse of K16.794 million in funds linked to Zambia’s Social Cash Transfer (SCT) Programme.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested District Social Welfare Officer Goretty Moonga, 39, and Assistant Social Welfare Officers Humphrey Chikwasha, 33, and Anderson Ngulube, 40, over allegations that they misappropriated the funds between February 1 and April 30, 2026.

According to the ACC, Moonga is alleged to have withdrawn K6 million, while Chikwasha and Ngulube are alleged to have taken K5.574 million and K5.219 million respectively.

The Commission says the withdrawals were allegedly made from the Itezhi-Tezhi District Welfare Assistance Committee account under the pretext that the money was required for Social Cash Transfer activities.

The ACC further alleges that the funds were instead used to acquire and maintain various properties, including real estate and motor vehicles. The Commission has since restricted properties allegedly acquired from the proceeds of the suspected offences while investigations continue.

The three officers are expected to appear in court, and the allegations have not yet been tested before a court of law.

In a statement issued on September 20, 2026, MCDSS Permanent Secretary for Administration Angela C. Kawandami said the Ministry welcomed the investigations being conducted by the ACC and would continue providing the information and support required to establish the facts.

The Ministry said it has zero tolerance for corruption, abuse, misappropriation or misuse of public resources and would not shield officers whose conduct undermines Government programmes or deprives intended beneficiaries of resources.

“Every kwacha allocated to the Social Cash Transfer Programme belongs to the people of Zambia and must be properly managed, accounted for and utilised strictly for the intended purpose,” the Ministry said.
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The Ministry stressed that the alleged conduct of individual officers should not be interpreted as representing the values and professional standards of MCDSS as an institution.

It also said the case should not undermine public confidence in the Social Cash Transfer Programme, which is intended to provide support to vulnerable and disadvantaged Zambians.

The Ministry said it would instead use such incidents to strengthen internal controls, financial management systems, compliance mechanisms, supervision and accountability across its programmes and district offices.

The Social Cash Transfer Programme is an important component of Zambia’s social protection system, providing financial support to vulnerable households. The scale of the alleged amount involved in the Itezhi-Tezhi case has consequently raised concerns because the funds were intended for a programme designed to support people facing significant economic hardship.

The ACC has also warned public officers against abusing public resources, particularly funds intended for vulnerable members of society, and said those found to have abused their positions would face the law.

The latest case has also renewed attention on the importance of strong financial controls within social protection programmes. Previous reviews of Zambia’s Social Cash Transfer system have identified weaknesses in areas including beneficiary management and payments, although those historical findings are separate from the current allegations against the three Itezhi-Tezhi officers.

MCDSS said it would continue working with law enforcement agencies and other Government institutions to prevent, detect and address suspected abuse of public resources while respecting due process and the presumption of innocence.

The Ministry further said public service is a responsibility and that officers entrusted with public resources are expected to uphold high standards of integrity and accountability.

The Government’s broader position, according to the Ministry, is that public funds should be protected and used for their intended purposes, particularly where they are directed towards programmes supporting vulnerable citizens.

MCDSS has therefore assured Social Cash Transfer beneficiaries, cooperating partners and other stakeholders that it remains committed to protecting the integrity and sustainability of the programme.

The Ministry said it would continue working to ensure that resources allocated to social protection reach the people for whom they are intended.
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