THE Lundazi Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a former Chama District Council Secretary and two Constituency Development Fund committee chairpersons to 24 months simple imprisonment for corruption involving over K700,000.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Chipata has arrested and charged two Judiciary officials for corruption.

In a statement, Thursday, ACC spokesperson Queen Chibwe stated that former Chama District Council Secretary Yaphet Simpamba was charged with abuse of authority of office and was also jointly charged with two CDF committee chairpersons for willful failure to follow laid down procurement procedures and guidelines.

She stated that Simpamba abused the authority of his office by receiving payments in the sum of K10,455 under the CDF as subsistence allowance for his travel to the United Kingdom to procure a grader and a tipper, which were not delivered.

“The Lundazi Magistrate Court has convicted a former Chama District Council Secretary and two Constituency Development Fund Committee (CDF) Chairpersons for corruption involving over K700,000. Magistrate Hon. Edward Chisanga who presided over the case sentenced the trio to 24 months simple imprisonment. In 2019 the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Chipata arrested and charged Chama District Council Secretary Yaphet Simpamba aged 64, of Serenje, with one count of abuse of authority of office, contrary to section 21 as read with section 41 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012. Further, Simpamba was arrested and jointly charged with Chama-North CDF Committee Chairperson, Ancrate Gondwe, 59, of Chama and Chama-South CDF Committee Chairperson, Sam Lungu, 43, of Chama, with two counts of willful failure to follow laid down procurement procedures and guidelines contrary to section 34 (2)(a)(ii) and (b) as read with section 41 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012,” Chibwe stated.

“Details in the first count are that Yaphet Simpamba as Chama District Council Secretary on dates unknown but between 1st September 2012 and 31st March 2013, did abuse the authority of his office by receiving payments in the sum of K10,455 under the CDF as subsistence allowance for his travel to the United Kingdom to procure a grader and a tipper, which were not delivered.”

Chibwe stated that Simpamba and Ancrate Gondwe also fraudulently facilitated the payment of K350,000 CDF for Chama-North Constituency to purchase a grader and a tipper truck, which were not delivered.

“Details in the second count are that Yaphet Simpamba and Ancrate Gondwe on dates unknown but between 1st September, 2012 and 31st March, 2013 in Chama District, Muchinga Province, being a public officers, jointly and whilst acting together with persons unknown, did willfully fail to comply with laid down procurement and CDF procedures and guidelines when they fraudulently facilitated the payment of K350,000 CDF for Chama-North Constituency to purchase a grader and a tipper truck, which were not delivered. Details in the third count are that Yaphet Simpamba and Sam Lungu on dates unknown but between 1st September, 2012 and 31st March, 2013 in Chama District, Muchinga Province, being public officers, jointly and whilst acting together with persons unknown, did willfully fail to comply with laid down procurement and CDF procedures and guidelines when they fraudulently facilitated the payment of K350,000 CDF for Chama-South Constituency to purchase of a grader and a tipper truck, which were not delivered,” she stated.

“The Commission wishes to sternly warn all Council Officials countrywide that it will bring to book any individual found to have abused the CDF or failed to follow the CDF guidelines and procurement procedures.”

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Chibwe disclosed that the commission had arrested and charged two judiciary officials in Chipata for corruption.

“The ACC in Chipata has arrested and charged two Judiciary Officials for corruption. Mrs Acklina Bwalya, 35, of Showgrounds East Area, Petauke District and Ms Christabel Nyirenda, 42, of Moth Area, Chipata are charged with two counts of Theft by Public Servant contrary to section 265 as read together with section 277 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. Details in the first count are that Acklina Bwalya on dates unknown but between 1st December 2019 and 1st June 2020, in Chipata District, Eastern Province, being a Public Officer namely a Senior Local Court Messenger of Chipata Urban Local Court stole K3,300.00, which came into her possession, by virtue of her employment,” stated Chibwe.

“Details in the second count are that Christabel Nyirenda on dates unknown but between 1st December 2019 and 1st June 2020, in the Chipata District, Eastern Province, being a Public Officer namely a Court Clerk of Chipata Urban Local Court stole K2,200.00, which came into her possession, by virtue of her employment. The duo has since been released on bond and will appear in Court soon.”