• Stardy Mwale arrested for corrupt practices involving K8, 500,000.
• Mr. Mwale has been charged with two counts of Corrupt Practices by Public Officer.
• He has also been charged with one count of possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of Crime.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested former Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary for corrupt practices involving K8, 500,000.
Commission Public Relations Manager Timothy Moono disclosed in a statement that Stardy Mwale, 51, of Flat number 21 Eureka Park in Makeni, has been charged with two counts of Corrupt Practices by Public Officer contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Mr. Moono explained that Mr. Mwale has also been charged with one count of Possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of Crime contrary to the laws of Zambia.
“Investigations have established that between 1st March 2018 and 30th June 2018, Mr. Mwale, whilst being Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, did corruptly solicit and actually attempted to receive US$200,000 from Eagle Trading International, a representative of African Security Academy, a company engaged by the Ministry of Defence to finance, supply and deliver military uniforms for the Zambia National Service,” Mr. Moono said.
He added that the money was to be paid into an account of the Australian owners of Simonga Farm located in Chikankata District, which Mr. Mwale had purchased.
“The said money was an inducement or reward for having facilitated the signing and payment of the said contract. Investigations have also established that between 1st January 2017 and 30th December 2017, in Lusaka, Mwale was in possession of K2, 500,000.00 in his personal bank account, funds suspected to have been proceeds of crime,” he stated.
Mr. Moono further explained that between 1st August 2017 and 1st October 2020, Mr. Mwale, without declaring interest into the matter, engaged Ministry of Finance to secure and facilitate the payment of US$1,675,497.76 to African Security Academy, as arrangement, management and insurance fees towards the contract on the supply of military uniforms to the Ministry of Defence.
He said the actions were prejudicial to the interest of the Ministry of Defence, a public body, adding that the Commission has since seized Simonga Farm and the Zambia National Service has been engaged to manage it.
Mr. Mwale, who has been released on bond, is expected to appear in court soon.
On Wednesday, the ACC arrested Savenda Group of Companies Director and Shareholder Clever Mpoha for corrupt practices involving US$927,448 in connection with 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 ZNS at a contract sum of US$47million.