Chongwe District Health Director Nseluke convicted on 10 counts, fined K330,000 over contract with his own company

The Chongwe Subordinate Court has convicted Dr Mweene Nseluke, the Director of the Chongwe District Health Office, on 10 counts of failing to declare a conflict of interest, and fined him K330,000 in total. Resident Magistrate Francis Sato imposed the fine on Monday 19 October. If Dr Nseluke does not pay within 14 days, he faces prison terms of three to 24 months, to run at the same time. The charges were brought under the Public Procurement Act No. 8 of 2020 and involved more than K300,000. The court found that Dr Nseluke approved payments to Lukem Prominent Ventures, a company in which he had a direct interest, and personally withdrew the money. The company held a contract to service and repair Ministry of Health vehicles in Chongwe, which was signed for the company by his sister, Sinikiwe Masuka. The Anti-Corruption Commission confirmed the conviction in a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday. ACC spokesperson Joseph Mwenya said public office must never be exploited for personal gain, and he urged public officers to declare conflicts of interest and follow procurement rules. The ACC arrested and charged Dr Nseluke in June 2025. At that time the Commission said the contract with Lukem Prominent Ventures was signed on 1 June 2022 and that company registration records at PACRA listed him as the owner. It said he certified and approved payments for vehicle and motorbike services and for goods and services supplied to the company without declaring his interest, and that the payments totalled K422,415. He was released on bond and was due to appear in court on 20 June 2025. ## Why it matters A district health office manages government health money in its district, including the upkeep of Ministry of Health vehicles. Most Zambians never do business with the state, but they feel it when public money is paid to a company owned by the official who approves the payment, because every kwacha that goes that way is a kwacha the district's health service cannot use elsew