Law Development boss denies graft charges

ZAMBIA Law Development Commission (ZLDC) Director Hope Ndhlovu Chanda has pleaded not guilty to two counts of corrupt practices involving over K120, 000.

Chanda, 42, of plot number 7144/m, Lusaka West has been charged with two counts of corrupt acquisition of public property, contrary to Section 34 (2) (b) as read with Section 41 of the Anti-Corruption Act number 3 of 2012 of the Laws of Zambia. In the first count one, particulars of the offence are that on dates unknown but before June 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017, Chanda with other unknown persons, willfully failed to comply with the laid down procedures by awarding a contract in the sum of K60, 000 to Chipo Mushota Nkhata for consultancy work in the law reform audit. In the second count, particulars of the offence are that on dates unknown but between January 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017, Chanda with other unknown persons failed to comply with the laid down procedures in awarding a contract in the sum of K61, 306 to Vinnid Innovations Limited for provision of catering services for the launch of the Gender Based Violence Fast Track Court, a matter concerning the ZLDC a public body. She denied both counts before Magistrate Greenwell Malumani yesterday, after which the matter was adjourned to August 27, 2018 for commencement of trial and her bond has been extended. She was arrested on July 6, 2018 by the Ant-Corruption Commission (ACC) and was released on bond the same day.