Wed, 14 Jun 2017 10:03:44 +0000
By OSCAR MALIPENGA and CHITE MTONGA
FORMER Health Minister in the MMD government Dr. Brian Chituwo has been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for corrupt practices involving declaration of interest.
ACC public relations manager Timothy Moono confirmed the arrest of the former Mumbwa Central Member of Parliament to the Daily Nation in a statement yesterday.
Mr. Moono said Dr Chituwo, 70, of house number 1/88 of F/401a, Lilayi, Lusaka, was arrested and charged with one count of conflict of interest contrary to section 28(2) as read with section 41 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012.
“Details of the offence are that on dates unknown but between 1st January, 2012, and 31st December, 2014, in Mumbwa district of Central Province, Dr. Chituwo attended a council meeting and participated in the proceedings to fund Blue Sky FM Limited, a private company in which he was director and shareholder, without declaring interest in writing,” he said.
Dr. Chituwo has since been released on bond and was scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
The ACC has also arrested three former officials and an acting director of the Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) for corrupt practices involving over 49, 000 euros.
Mr. Moono identified the officials as Jacob Nkomoki, 58, a retiree of Plot no. 11 Airport Road, and Mukufute Mukelabai, 60, a retiree and currently a farmer of house no. 100, Mongu Airport compound.
Others are Overseas Mwangase, 59, retired, of plot No. 15570/M/U Chalala Hillview, Lusaka, and Joseph Kanyanga, 53, of Plot No 1245, Katope Street, Chelstone, Lusaka, who is acting director at the Zambia Meteorological Department.
Mr. Moono said each one of them had been charged with one count of Corrupt Practices by Public Officer contrary to section 19 (1) of the ACC Act no. 3 of 2012.
“Details are that the four, on unknown dates but between 1st July 2014 and 1st November 2015 in Lusaka, being public officers employed at the Zambia Meteorological Department, corruptly solicited for 12,459 euros cash each as gratification from GBMS Engineering Ltd as an inducement or reward in order to sign the completion statement for the works that were awarded to GBMS Ltd based on contract no. BM21D 2011997672, a matter or transaction concerning the Zambia Meteorological Department under the Ministry of Communication and Transport, a public body,” Mr. Moono said.
He said the four were arrested on Monday and had since been released on bond and will appear in court on 12th July, 2017.
