08/12/2025
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AND LIVESTOCK OFFICERS
ARRESTED BY ACC FOR CORRUPT PRACTICES AT CHINSALI OFFICE.
The Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) has today the 8th of December, 2025 arrested and charged three (3) Officers from the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries for corrupt practices.
The said officers misappropriated part of a 10,000,000 United States Dollars (USD) loan which the Government of the Republic of Zambia obtained from the African Development Bank (ADB) in 2019. The disbursement of the loan started in 2020 and was to run until 2024, but due to late disbursement, it was extended to June this year(2025).
The loan was intended to be utilized under the sustainable livestock infrastructure management project (SLIMP), to improve livestock infrastructure, enhance livestock production through commercialization and capacity building among ministry staff. The project was earmarked for implementation in Muchinga and Northern Provinces.
Financial Investigations conducted by ACC officers have revealed that the entire 10,000,000 USD was disbursed. It has further been established that, 5,289,974.86 USD translating to ZMW 126,959,396.72 allocated for administrative and capacity-building activities was extensively misapplied.
Investigations established that 1,346,907.27 USD translating to K32,325,774.59 was illicitly transferred into personal accounts under false pretenses. A further 142,946.13 USD translating to K3,430,707.21 was withdrawn in cash and shared among officers.
The funds were “retired” using falsified documents for activities that never took place, enabling implicated officers to accumulate assets grossly disproportionate to their legitimate earnings. The findings confirm systemic abuse and misappropriation of project resources.
The details of individuals arrested, charges, properties and amounts involved are :
1. Henry Sichone – Lusaka Provincial Livestock Research Officer (Former Muchinga Province Focal Point Person for SLIMP). Mr. Sichone has been charged with three counts of Possession of Property Suspected to be Proceeds of Crime, contrary to Section 71 of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010.
The charges relate to seven houses and two motor vehicles valued at K2,945,000.00. He has additionally been charged with one count of Corrupt Acquisition of Public Property and Revenue, contrary to Section 34 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012, involving K4,150,756.00.
2. Abraham Mulenga – Provincial Fisheries and Livestock Marketing Development Officer for Central Province (Former Muchinga Province Focal Point Person under SLIMP). Mr. Mulenga has been charged with eight counts of Possession of Unexplained Property, contrary to Section 22 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012.
The charges involve seven houses, two plots (bare land), money, and vehicles valued at K4,679,901.41. Additionally, he has been charged with one count of Corrupt Acquisition of Public Property and Revenue, contrary to Section 34 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012, involving K2,596,752.76
3. Peter Michese - District Accountant for Chinsali in Muchinga. Mr. Michese has been charged with four counts of Possession of Unexplained Property, contrary to Section 22 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012.
The charges relate to blocks of flats, houses, and vehicles valued at K2,010,000.00. Additionally, he has been charged with one count of Corrupt Acquisition of Public Property and Revenue, contrary to Section 34 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012, involving K5,565,004.28.
The investigations are on going and more arrests are expected.
