• Investigations are currently underway.
• They border on payments made for fictitious activities and theft of public funds.
• Some individuals have voluntarily offered to pay back the funds they illegally received.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) says it has arrested 18 individuals in a financial scandal at Ministry of Finance.
In a statement, Commission Head-Corporate Communications Timothy Moono, said investigations which are currently underway border on payments made for fictitious activities and theft of public funds.
Mr. Moono identified some of the arrested individuals as Auditor-General Dr. Dick Sichembe, Former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba, Accountant General Kennedy Musonda, two Deputy Auditor-Generals, Clara Mazumba and Francis Mbewe.
“Others arrested are Director for Budget and Economic Affairs Chomba Kabwe, Director for Policy and Research Fides Mulenga, Principal Accountant Elijah Manunga, Director for Internal Audit Norah Mwila Sichilongo, Director for Local Government and Projects Mumba Bwalya, Senior Accountant Edward Zimbizi, Principal for Budget Analysis Medson Moyo, Accountant Angela Bwalya, and Controller of Internal Audit Chibwe Nobert Mulonda,” Mr. Moono said.
He stated that the investigations are purely professional and based on information of alleged abuse of office and theft of public funds perpetrated by named individuals, some of whom have voluntarily offered to pay back the funds they illegally received.
“The Commission wishes to state that it is not targeting any person at the Ministry of Finance. The Commission further wishes to clarify that some individuals have voluntarily offered to pay back the funds they illegally received.”
“This is provided for under Section 80 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012. The Commission has subsequently restricted several bank accounts held by individuals suspected to be involved in this saga as part of on-going investigations,” he added.
In February 2023, Permanent Secretaries and Directors at Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Auditor General were transferred to Cabinet office and the Public Services Management Division as part of the ongoing investigations into allegations of irregular payments. The investigations were necessitated by a special audit of the Integrated Financial Management Information System for the period 2018 to 2021.
