Zambia holds farmers' officials on $34M fraud charges

By Francis Maingaila

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) – The president and chief executive of Zambia’s National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) were arrested Tuesday on theft and corruption charges in connection with a purported $34 million embezzlement scandal.

Officers from the country’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) under its Anti Money-Laundering Unit (AMLU) confirmed they arrested and charged ZNFU President Evelyn Nguleka, 46, and Chief Executive Ndambo Ndambo, 43.

The pair faces charges of theft by public servants, obtaining money by false pretenses and money laundering.

DEC spokeswoman Theresa Katongo told journalists: “The arrest of the two suspects [is] in connection with $34 million dollars embezzled [by] the ZNFU which was donated by the Swedish and Finnish governments respectively. The accused have been released on police bond and will appear in court soon.”

On Sept. 7, the Finnish and Swedish governments through their embassies at a joint news conference demanded a full refund of the embezzled funds from ZNFU officials.

According to David Wiking, the deputy head of mission at the Swedish embassy in Lusaka, a report was submitted to Zambia’s Ministry of Home Affairs for action.

Ministry spokesman Moses Suwali told Anadolu Agency the Zambian government was in receipt of the report.

“The ministry is studying a report and [the] necessary recommendations would be made for action thereafter,” he said.