FOUR Food Reserve Agency (FRA) officials in Mwinilunga, Zambia, allegedly turned a blind eye to their responsibility of ensuring food security and instead filled their pockets by selling off government-reserved maize for personal gain.
The officials are reported to have stolen and sold 4,351 bags of white maize over a four-year period, amassing K1.7 million in the process.
They have been identified as King Luninga, 43, a marketing assistant, Happy Mwansa, 42, a warehouse supervisor. Bob Musukwa, 39, a commodity checker and Kapasa Makungu, 37, a data entry supervisor.
While the group took the proverb of “ubomba mwibala alya mwibala (One who works in the field, feeds from the field.)” beyond the limit, depriving the country of the highly needed staple, their luck finally met the revered load shedding with no hope of returning soon.
The illegal operation came to light during a stock audit at the Mwinilunga depot in Northwestern Province.
A subsequent investigation by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) led to the seizure of two vehicles belonging to the suspects.
A Toyota Noah, registration number BCE 171 ZM, from King Luninga and a Toyota Chaser registration number ALT 3942 from Bob Musukwa were seized.
The FRA officials are facing charges of theft by public servant and money laundering.
According to Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) public relations officer Allan Tamba, the four are currently on a police bond awaiting trial.
“The FRA officials face charges of Theft by Public Servant under Section 277, cap 87 and Money Laundering under Section 7 of the Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 14 of 2001” said Tamba.
By Elesani Phiri
Kalemba June 11, 2024
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