Ex-Minister, Wife Face Law

The Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) has referred former Deputy Minister of Agriculture Rodgers Mwewa and his wife Annie Mwitwa to National Prosecutions Authority (NPA) for prosecution.
ACC chief corporate affairs officer Timothy Moono said after thorough investigations regarding alleged corruption against Mr Mwewa, the commission has referred the matter for possible prosecution.
Mrs Mwewa is former permanent secretary for administration at Cabinet Office.
Mr Moono also disclosed that the alleged abuse of authority of office against former Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo in the manner she cancelled hunting concessions awarded by ZAWA has reached an advanced stage.
He said the commission is currently analysing conclusions of the alleged abuse of office case in which Ms Masebo is alleged to have feted some named traditional leader using public funds during a civil matter in court against her.
Mr Moono also said the commission has closed investigations in the alleged corruption against former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services, Amos Malupenga because there is no evidence of any wrongdoing.
The ACC has also closed investigations into alleged abuse of authority of office against former Deputy Minister of Labour Ronald Chitotela in the manner Constituency Development Funds (CDF) were utilised for lack of evidence.
Mr Moono said the commission has not found sufficient evidence to prosecute Minister of Sports Chishimba Kambwili’s alleged abuse of authority of office.
He said in the last quarter of this year, the commission recorded eight arrests, bringing the total arrests so far to 31 countrywide while three convictions and two acquittals were also recorded.
The commission instituted investigations in 236 cases while 125 cases have been concluded.
He also said that during the quarter under review, a total of 298 reports of suspected corruption were received.
The commission has also filed the notice of appeal in the High Court against former Ministry of Health human resources manager Henry Kapoko following his acquittal in the subordinate court.
“The commission would also like to take this opportunity to inform members of the public that even though Mr Kapoko and his accomplices were acquitted recently by one of the courts, he is still appearing before four other different courts,” Mr Moono said at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday.
“These matters are related to the alleged theft of over K10 million public funds at the Ministry of Health exposed in 2009,” he said.
On the issue of the alleged bribery of Minister of Labour and Social Security Fackson Shamenda by a Dangote Industries official, Mr Moono said the ACC will not take any further action in the matter.