2 Education officials put on their defence

MULENGA MUSONDA writes TWO senior civil servants facing four counts of corrupt practices and abuse of authority of office have been found with a case to answer and put on their defence. The two, Stephen Chishiko and Mainga Mulima are appearing in the Choma Magistrates Court before Resident Magistrate Ethel Phiri.  In these matters, Chishiko 54, Western Province Education Officer of Mongu, is facing four counts of corrupt practices and abuse of authority of office. Jointly charged with him in the first two counts is Mulima, 47, acting Senior Accountant based at Southern Province Provincial Education Office. Particulars of the offence in count one are that on dates unknown but between August 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014 the two failed to comply with the law and laid down procedures by allegedly transferring K125, 000 to Chalimbana College. In the second count, the two being public officers are accused of willfully failing to comply with the law and laid down management procedure by allegedly diverting K110, 000 from its intended purposes. In count three, Chishiko is charged with abuse of authority of office by directing the Head Teacher of Macha Girls Secondary School to transfer K110, 000 into the Provincial Account. In the last count, Chishiko is accused of receiving K397, 680 into his personal account, money suspected to be proceeds of crime. When the matter came up for ruling the magistrate found ruled that a prima facie case has been established and the two needed to give their side of the story. The court said the evidence given by the witnesses called by Anti-Corruption Commission State Advocate Virginia Tembo was overwhelming. The matter was adjourned to September 2, 2020 for commencement of defence. Chishiko and Mulima are on police bond. The Sun