Police spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo says the British Council has reported fraud involving one of the UKAid funded programmes called Zambia Accountability Project.

ZAP is a £26 million project, meant to run from 2014-2018, aimed at encouraging and supporting effective collaboration among elected leaders, government officials, civic groups and private businesses on prioritised government reform and development problems.

However, there have been reports of financial impropriety implicating local civil society organisations like SACCORD, YALI and FODEP which the Zambia Police Service and the Drug Enforcement Commission dismissed as mere speculation last week.

But in a statement today, Katongo confirmed that the British Council had on November 9 reported the suspected fraud and it was currently being investigated.

“I wish to confirm that the Zambia Police has finally received a formal report from the British Council on the suspected fraud by one of the UKAid funded projects which is the Zambia Accountability Project (ZAP). The report was made on the 09th November, 2017 to the Zambia Police Anti Fraud Unit,” stated Katongo.

“The fraud is said to have occurred between 01st January, 2016 and 01st September, 2017. The revelation follows an internal investigation carried out by the British Council. The Zambia Police has since opened an inquiry file in the matter.”