The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested a former Project Accountant at the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services for diverting K44,657,600 meant for the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) Programme.
The suspect has been identified as Casious Mweetwa, 47, of Plot No. A56, Meanwood, Lusaka, who served under the Project Implementation Unit (PIU).
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday, ACC Head of Corporate Communications, Joseph Mwenya, said the funds were intended to provide financial assistance to vulnerable households under the SCT programme.
Mwenya said Mweetwa had been charged with eight counts of Conspiracy to Defraud the Government and Theft by Public Servant.
“The Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested a former Project Accountant at the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Casious Mweetwa, for corrupt practices involving K44,657,600, funds intended for the Social Cash Transfer Programme,” he stated.
Mwenya said the charges were Conspiracy to Defraud the Government contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 87 and Theft by Public Servant contrary to Section 277 as read with Section 265 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 87.
“The scale of the alleged financial loss is particularly concerning, given that Forty-Four Million, Six Hundred and Fifty-Seven Thousand, Six Hundred Kwacha was allegedly diverted through eight transactions within a period of just eight months,” he said.
Particulars of the offence allege that between May, 1, 2025 and August, 31, 2026, Mweetwa jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, fraudulently facilitated the transfer of the total sum into the Itezhi-tezhi District Welfare Assistance Committee Account on eight separate occasions.
Mweetwa allegedly purported that the funds were meant for the official SCT administrative component for Itezhi-tezhi district when in fact not.
Particulars of the offence on Conspiracy to Defraud were that Mweetwa fraudulently facilitated the transfer of the total sum into the Itezhi-tezhi District Welfare Assistance Committee Account on eight separate occasions, purporting that the funds were meant for the official Social Cash Transfer administrative component when in fact not.
On the charge of Theft by Public Servant, it was alleged that during the same period, Mweetwa fraudulently and unlawfully diverted the K44.6 million for personal gain through several cash withdrawals from the District Welfare Assistance Committee Account.
The particulars of the offence on Theft by Public Servant were that Mweetwa jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, fraudulently and unlawfully diverted the total sum for personal gain through several cash withdrawals,” the ACC stated.
“The funds are reasonably suspected to have been used to procure and maintain various properties, including real estate and motor vehicles,” Mwenya said.
He said Mweetwa had since been released on bond and is expected to appear in court soon.
“The Anti-Corruption Commission reiterates its warning to public officers that the abuse, diversion or theft of public resources for personal gain is a serious offence that will not be tolerated,” Mwenya stated.
He said public funds were meant to serve the people and support national development, not to enrich individuals through fraudulent schemes.
Mwenya warned that those who engaged in corruption should be advised that no position of trust places them above the law.
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