Ex-ministry accountant arrested over K44.6 million meant for Zambia's poorest households

LUSAKA. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested Casious Mweetwa, 47, a former Project Accountant in the ministry's Project Implementation Unit. He faces eight counts of conspiracy to defraud the Government and theft by public servant. The ACC says eight transactions were made between 1 May 2025 and 31 August 2026. The money went into the Itezhi-Tezhi District Welfare Assistance Committee account. The stated reason was Social Cash Transfer administration activities. The ACC says the money was then withdrawn in cash. It says he acted jointly with others not yet named. It says the money is reasonably suspected to have been used to buy property, including real estate and vehicles. Zambia Monitor and Diamond TV both carry that line from the ACC statement. It is a suspicion, not a finding. Mr Mweetwa has been released on bond. He is due in court soon. The ACC's Head of Corporate Communications, Joseph Mwenya, issued the statement. **Why it matters.** The Social Cash Transfer pays K400 a month to about 1.5 million households (K600 for households with a disabled member). It is the main cash support for the poorest. Money lost in administration is money that does not reach them. **The pattern.** On 19 September the ACC arrested three others over K16.79 million linked to the same Itezhi-Tezhi account: Goretty Moonga, 39, Humphrey Chikwasha, 33, and Anderson Ngulube, 40. That case covers 1 February to 30 April 2026. The ACC has not said the two cases are linked. The account is the same. **History.** In 2018 the UK and Finland froze aid to Zambia, about US$4 million, over social cash transfer losses. Former permanent secretary Emerine Kabanshi was dismissed and later convicted. **Verification notes.** - ZNBC and the Zambian Observer confirm the arrest. The Observer headline says "two charges" but its body says eight counts. We use eight. - Zambia Monitor lists two charge types: conspiracy to defraud the Government (section 313, Penal Code) and theft by public s