FORMER ZAMPOST Postmaster General Mcpherson Chanda has appeared before the Ndola Magistrates’ Court for a mention in a matter in which he is facing 13 charges of theft by public servant.

In the last sitting, Ndola Chief Resident Magistrate Davies Chibwili adjourned the matter to February 14 for mention, and March 1 and 2, 2022 for 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.

Chanda, 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 the last sitting, the three who are charged with theft by public servant appeared in Court for plea and pleaded not guilty.

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.