ACC arrests former CEEC driver Deacon Munjile over K200,000 taken from jobseekers

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested and charged a former driver at the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) for allegedly collecting more than K200,000 from several people on the promise of jobs in government institutions. The ACC identified him as Deacon Munjile, 40, of Chawama Township in Lusaka, in a statement issued on Friday 23 October by its Head of Corporate Communications, Joseph Mwenya. Mr Munjile faces one count of obtaining money by false pretences under Section 309A of the Penal Code Act, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. The charge says that between 1 January and 31 December 2021, in Lusaka District, he obtained over K200,000 from several individuals on the pretext that he would help them get employment in government institutions. The ACC statement said he "has since appeared before court and remains remanded in custody." He has not been convicted, and the allegations have not been proved. The ACC statement listed the Zambia Police Service, the Zambia Air Force, the Zambia National Service, the Zambia Correctional Service, the Office of the President Special Division, ZESCO and the Zambia Revenue Authority among the institutions concerned. It also warned the public that government institutions do not ask for payment to secure jobs, urged jobseekers to use official recruitment procedures, and asked people to report corruption. The CEEC is the state body that runs citizen economic empowerment programmes. The offence is alleged to have taken place in 2021. ## Why it matters Jobs in the police, army, correctional service, ZESCO and the Revenue Authority are among the most sought after in the country, and people who are desperate for work are easy targets for anyone who claims to have a link inside. When a promised job never comes, the money is usually gone. The ACC warning is plain: a government job cannot be bought, and anyone asking for money to arrange one is committing an offence. ## What happens next Mr Munjile remains i