FORMER Defence Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale has been released from custody after he was granted police bond following his arrest yesterday at the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court.
The Director of Public Prosecution(DPP) entered a nolle prosequi in a matter Mwale and five others pleaded not guilty to four counts of willful failure to comply with the law, applicable procedure or guidelines, relating to the procurement of Gulfstream G650 Presidential jet.
And immediately after a nolle prosequi was entered, Police officers arrested all the accused persons at the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court premises.
However, his lawyer, Leon Lemba confirmed his release after he was granted bond.
Lemba said his client was charged with the same charges he was discharged from.
Mwale was jointly charged with Isabel Wilima Chinji, brigadier general Micheal Obister Mbewe, brigadier general, Evaristo Sakala, brigadier general Frank Hardy Sinyangwe and Dr John Phiri.
The State alleges that Mwale and the other accused persons purchased the Gulfstream Presidential Jet without the evaluation of the tender procedure.
In the first count, Mwale, Chinji, Mbewe, Sakala, Sinyangwe and Dr Phiri between March 1, 2017 and April 4, 2017 in Lusaka, being persons concerned with management and use of public revenue, as members of the Ministerial Procurement Committee for Ministry of Defence, jointly and whilst acting together, without following tender procedure wilfully failed to comply with section 52 (1) of the public Procurement Act No. 12 of 2008 as read with Regulation 113 of the Public Procurement Regulations, Statutory Instrument No, 63 of 2008 when they awarded contract no. MOD/MPC/024-17 for the Modernisation of Defence Forces to ElBIT Systems Limited without Bid Evaluation.
Details in the last count, it is alleged that Mwale on the dates unknown but between March 1, 2017 and September 27, 2017 in Lusaka, being a Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Defence whose function concern administration, management and use of public property and revenue, fraudulently facilitated and made payments amounting US$50 million to ELBIT Systems Limited for goods and services not supplied or rendered in full, namely, Medical Evacuation Facility on the Gulf stream G650-ER Jet and upgrading the said Jet from a single mission passenger business jet to a Multi mission Aircraft as per contract no. MOD/MPC/024- 17 between the Government of the Republic of Zambia (Ministry of Defence) and Elbit Systems Limited.
By Lucy Phiri
Kalemba July 18, 2025
