STARDY MWALE APPEARS IN COURT FOR CORRUPTION

FORMER Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary, Stardy Mwale, has appeared at the Lusaka magistrate court on charges of corrupt practices involving $200, 000.

Mwale, 51, is jointly charged with Savenda Group of Companies director and chief executive officer, Clever Mpoha who is also facing one count of corrupt practices contrary to section 20 (2) of the AntiCorruption Act No. 3 of 2012.

When the matter came up yesterday before magistrate Silvia Munyinya, AntiCorruption Commission (ACC) prosecutor Daniel Ngwira informed the court that the matter was supposed to come up for plea but there was no consent yet from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

“May the charge only be explained whilst waiting for plea,” Mr. Ngwira said.

The court read the charge to the two accused persons who said they understood.

It is alleged that between March and June 2018, Mwale allegedly did corruptly solicit and attempted to receive $200, 000 from Eagle Trading International.

It is also alleged that Eagle Trading was a representative of African Security Academy, a company engaged by the Ministry of Defence to finance, supply and deliver military uniforms for the Zambia National Service (ZNS).

Further allegations indicate that the money was to be paid into an account of the Australian owners of Simonga Farm located in Chikankata which Mwale had allegedly bought as an inducement or reward for having facilitated the signing and payment of the said contract.

Between the same periods, Mwale allegedly did solicit and received $200, 000 from Eagle Trading International which was paid into an account of the Australian owners of Simonga Farm.

Earlier, ACC seized Simonga Farm and ZNS has been engaged to manage it.

In count one, it is alleged that Mwale on a date unknown but between March 1, 2017 and October 31, 2018 in Lusaka with other persons unknown, being a public officer namely Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Defence, did corruptly receive cash gratification of $200, 000 from Eagle Trading International Limited as a reward for facilitating the payment of management fees to Africa Security Academy emanating from a contract for the supply of uniforms to the Ministry of Defence, a matter or transaction concerning the Ministry of Defence a public body.

In count two, Mpoha on a date unknown but between March 1, 2017 and October 31, 2018 in Lusaka with other persons unknown, did corruptly give $200, 000 cash gratification to Mwale as a reward for facilitating the payment of arrangement fees to Africa Security Academy.

The court has set October 25, 2022 for plea.