The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is currently probing reports regarding Chitambo council officials who are purportedly seeking to embezzle a portion of the K5.2 million allocated for secondary boarding schools and skills development bursaries under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which is meant to support over 500 youths.
An investigation carried out by MakanDay has revealed that funds allocated for skills development are allegedly being targeted by council officials for personal gain.
Timothy Moono, Head of Corporate Communications at ACC, confirmed to MakanDay that "in response to your query, I would like to confirm that the Commission is actively investigating the matter".
The MakanDay report revealed that two senior council officials and a community development officer are allegedly implicated in the fraudulent activities.
Additional findings are outlined below:
Nearly 40 youths who applied for driving lessons at various institutions were coerced into attending lessons at a school arranged by council officials, facilitated through an intermediary named Binwell Leza.
The youth were mobilised and transported by bus to Lusaka. Upon arrival, accommodation was arranged for them at Amaka Kioma Lodge in Kanyama, Lusaka.
The council has not settled the bill for accommodating 50 youths for a period of one month and three days at the lodge in Lusaka. The least expensive room at the lodge is priced at K100 per night.
The syndicate offered the school payments ranging from K10,000 to K11,000 per student, while the typical fees for driving lessons charged by the school in Lusaka range from K2,500 to K3,500.
The syndicate manipulated the final list of beneficiaries submitted by the CDF committee. Initially, there were 38 students from Chitambo, but upon reaching Lusaka, an additional 12 individuals were added, raising the total to 50 students.
In a desperate move, officials were attempting to enroll students in schools lacking TEVETA accreditation, such as Perfect Driving School in Lusaka, which is currently undergoing the accreditation process.
