ACC ARRESTS FORMER CHAMA DEBS OVER K2.4 MILLION CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS

The Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested and charged former Chama District Education Board Secretary Titus Mbewe over alleged corrupt practices involving more than 2.4 million kwacha.

The 56-year-old has been charged with two counts of abuse of authority of office and one count of wilful failure to follow applicable procedure under the Anti-Corruption Act.

ACC alleges that between January and December 2025, Mr Mbewe facilitated payments of over 1.4 million kwacha to Frelun Commodities Limited for white maize and 1.07 million kwacha to Ichikwanka Multi-Purpose Cooperative for dried beans before the contracts were approved by the Mkushi Council Secretary.

The Commission further alleges that full payments were authorised before the goods were delivered and that procurement procedures were purportedly followed when the relevant committees had not evaluated the tenders.

Mr Mbewe, who was serving as Chama DEBS at the time of his arrest, has since been released on bond and is expected to appear in court.