A Joint Investigations Team on the Ministry of Lands Inquiry has arrested Samuel Daka, an Estates and Valuation Officer at the Ministry of Lands and his wife for Lucy Chalimba for abuse of office and fraud.
And the Investigations Team has also restricted one hundred and eleven (111) properties as a result of inquiries involving officials in the Minstry of Lands pending further investigations.
The Joint Investigations Team comprises officers from the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) Drug Enforcement Commission( DEC) and the Zambia Police Service.
According to a statement issued by ACC Public Relations Manager, Tomothy Moono and
made available to ZANIS this evening, in the first count, Daka is charged with falsifying documents contrary to section 344(a) and (D) and 347 of the penal code chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Details are that on September 19th 2001, Daka jointly and while acting together with
a known person did make a false document namely Chibombo District Council Minute
number SPWD 218/09/2001 purporting to show it was genuine and signed by J. Muteto, Acting Council Secretary for Chibombo District Counci when infact not.
In the second count, Daka is charged with forgery contrary to section 342 and 347 of
the penal code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Details are that on dates unknown, but between September 19 th 2001 and February
23, 2003 jointly and while acting together with a known person, with intent to defraud or deceive did forge one Lands Department application form in the name of Lucy Chalimba purporting to show that it was genuinely recommended and signed by J. Muteto, Chibombo District Council Executive Secretary when in fact not.
In the third count, Daka is charged with uttering false documents contrary to section 352 of the penal code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Details are that on March 20, 2003,knowingly and fraudulently did utter false documents namely Chibombo District Council Minute number SPWD/218/09/2001 and one Lands Department application form in the name of Lucy Chalimba to one Muketoi
Wamunyima, a senior Lands Officer at Ministry of Lands.
In the forth count, Daka and his wife Lucy Chalimba on dates unknown but between
February 23 2003 and March 31, 2003 jointly and while acting together by means of
false pretences , did fradulently procure Mr Banarby Mulenga, Registrar Lands and
Deeds at Ministry of Lands to sign and issue a certificate of title number 45338 for property number F/8905 located in Chibombo District in the name of Easter Senga.
In the fifth count, Daka is charged with abuse of authority of office contrary to section 37(1) (2) (a) and 41 of the Anti Corruption Commission Act number 42 of 1996.
Dates are that on dates unknown but between September 19 2001 and February 23 2003, Daka being a person employed in the Public Service namely Ministry of Lands as
Acting Head of Estates and Valuation, unilaterary and without authority , granted
consent to transfer farm number F/8905 to Lucy Chalimba thereby obtaining advantage, a matter or transaction that concerns the Lands in the Ministry of Lands, a public
body.
Mr Moono says the duo have been remanded in custody and will appear in court tomorrow, May 17, 2007.
It was just a matter of time. It’s expected that many more will follow suit. We saw these ‘ boys’ join MOL after graduating from CBU. Within just a few years they had amassed a lot of assets in unexplained circumstances. MOL was turned into a money spinner for them and this was done with impunity. State land was in certain cases subdivided and sold at break-neck prices – in millions of kwacha e.g. the land designated for the Civil Servants Recreation Club in the Mass Media area.
I for one propose that all the ill-gotten land at the hands of these ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ be forfeited back to the state. As for the culprits, they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
You are right MK. I know some of the MOL guys from CBU and it is suprising how much wealth they have amassed in such a short time. You guys at VD ie late CM, BBC and others were real professionals. Suprisingly, most of the CBU guys were recruited in Chiluba’s regime. Is it mere coincidence?