By Christopher Miti
THE Lundazi Magistrates’ Court has sentenced former Chama Council secretary and two Constituency Development Fund (CDF) committee chairpersons to two years simple imprisonment for corruption involving over K700,000.
Magistrate Edward Chisanga jailed Yaphet Simpamba, 64, of Serenje district who stood charged with one count of abuse of authority of office.
Simpamba was arrested and jointly charged with Chama North CDF chairperson Ancrate Gondwe, 59, of Chama; and Chama South CDF chairperson Sam Lungu, 43, of Chama with two counts of willful failure to follow laid down procurement procedures and guidelines.
Details of the offence in the first count are that Simpamba as Chama district council secretary on dates unknown but between September 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013, did abuse the authority of his office by receiving payments in the sum of K10,455 under the CDF as subsistence allowance for his travel to the United Kingdom to procure a grader and a tipper, which were not delivered.
According to a statement issued by ACC spokesperson Queen Chibwe, details in the second count were that Simpamba and Gondwe on dates unknown but between September 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013 in Chama district and being public officers, jointly and whilst acting together with persons unknown, did willfully fail to comply with laid down procurement and CDF procedures and guidelines when they fraudulently facilitated the payment of K350,000 CDF for Chama North Constituency to purchase a grader and a tipper truck, which were not delivered.
Details in the third count were that Simpamba and Sam Lungu on dates unknown but between September 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013 in Chama district, being public officers, jointly and whilst acting together with persons unknown, did willfully fail to comply with laid down procurement and CDF procedures and guidelines when they fraudulently facilitated the payment of K350,000.00 CDF for Chama- South Constituency to purchase a grader and a tipper truck, which were not delivered.
The ACC has since sternly warned all Council officials countrywide that it would arrest and prosecute any individual found to have abused the CDF or failed to follow the guidelines and procedures.