THE Economic and Financial Crimes Fast Track Court has taken over a case in which former ZAMPOST postmaster general McPherson Chanda and two others are facing 13 charges of theft by public servant.
On January 25, 2022, Chanda, Best Mwaichi and Isaac Kamwimba appeared before Ndola Chief Resident Magistrate Davies Chibwili where they pleaded not guilty to the charges.
However, when the matter came up on March 1, 2022 for trial, the accused persons appeared before a different Magistrate who is handling economic and financial crimes under the fast track court.
The trio took fresh plea before Magistrate Sakwanda, denying the charges.
After plea was taken, ACC senior legal and prosecutions officer Mwamba Bwalya applied to have the matter adjourned.
Magistrate Sakwanda then adjourned the case to March 10 and 11 for commencement of trial.
In December last year, the Drug Enforcement Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) arrested Chanda and two directors for corrupt practices involving over K300,000,000.
The trio, in their capacities as Postmaster General, Director of Finance and Director of Operations, respectively, were said to have unlawfully diverted social cash transfer funds amounting to K335,108,834.00 without lawful authority.
In count one, it is alleged that between December 1, 2017 and December 31, 2021, Mcpherson Chanda, Best Mwaichi and Isaac Kamwimba jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown and being employed in the public service, namely as PostMaster General, Director Finance and Director operations, respectively, for the Zambia Postal Services, stole K 50,000,000, property belonging to the Government of Zambia.
In count two, it is alleged that Chanda and Kamwimba between August 1 and December 1, 2018 stole K21,945,256, property belonging to the Government of Zambia.
In count three, it is alleged that Chanda and Mwaichi between September 1 and October 1, 2017, stole K 27,363,578, property belonging to the Government of Zambia.
In counts four and five, Chanda and Mwaichi are alleged to have between March 1 and December 1, 2018, stolen K 5,500,000 and K20,000,000, property belonging to the Government of Zambia.
In count six, the two are also alleged to have stolen K16,000,000 between September 1 and December 1, 2017 and K50,000,000 between January 1, 2017 and December 1, 2018.
Other amounts Chanda and Mwaichi are alleged to have stolen include; K50,000,000 between January 1 and December 1, 2018, K25,000,000 between October 1 and December 1, 2017, K6,000,000 between January 1 and December 1, 2018, K24,300,000 between October 1 and December 1, 2017, K25,000,000 between October 9 and December 1, 2017 and K14,000,000 between October 25 and December 1, 2017.
