The Anti-Corruption Commission in Livingstone has arrested 14 former Livingstone City Council Councilors for Abuse of Authority of Office.

According to a statement issued by ACC corporate affairs officer Christopher Chibanku, Friday, the former councilors have been charged with one count of Abuse of Authority of Office.

The Commission earlier arrested Livingstone Central Member of Parliament Mathews Jere on the same charge.

“Particulars of the offence are that on dates unknown but between 1st August, 2013 and 31st October, 2014, whilst serving as Councilors under the Livingstone City Council, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, did abuse the authority of their offices by allocating plots of land to themselves on property number LIV/4051, a matter or transaction concerning the Livingstone City Council, a public body. The arrested former Councilors are Mathews Jere aged 45, Livingstone Central Member of Parliament, Aggrey Mulako Njekwa aged 54, Fennix Liandisha aged 49, Frank Kalindima aged 47, Fred Sikazwe aged 48, Friday Chilufya Nkonde aged 51, Liswani Likando aged 59, and Milford Maambo aged 50,” Chibanku stated.

“Others are Patrick Makala aged 62, Reuben Kakwasha aged 64, Saxon Simachembele, Steven Simasinti aged 41, Ziwa Malilo Ziwa aged 42 and Stanley Ngoma aged 50.The arrested former Councilors have since been released on Bond and will appear in court soon.”

Meanwhile, the Livingstone Magistrates’ Court has convicted a Local Court Messenger based at Livingstone Local Court to six months imprisonment with hard labour for Theft by Public Servant.

“The Livingstone Magistrate Court sentenced Fines Chooye, 46, of House Number C179, Linda Compound, Livingstone to six months imprisonment on two counts of theft by Public Servant.
In the first count, Particulars of the offence being that on dates unknown but between 1st October, 2015 and 1st December, 2016, Fines Chooye, being a Public Officer working in the Judiciary as a Local Court Messenger under the Livingstone Local Court 2A, did steal a total sum of K250.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Kwacha) property of Kambole Akayombokwa, which came into his possession by virtue of his employment,” stated Chibanku.

“In the second count, particulars of the offence being that on dates unknown but between 1st November, 2015 and 1st November, 2016 working in the same institution and jurisdiction as above, did steal a total sum of K400.00 (Four Hundred Kwacha), property of Sitenge Mbindo which also came into his possession by virtue of his employment. The Commission arrested Fines Chooye in March, 2018 and charged him with two counts of theft by Public Servant Contrary to section 277 as read with section 265 of the Penal Code CAP 87 of the Laws of Zambia.”