Police arrest ex-Defense permanent secretary, Stardy Mwale, for hate speech

Police in Lusaka have charged and arrested former Ministry of Defense Permanent Secretary, Stardy Mwale, aged 53, of Chilima Farm in Chililabombwe District for the offence of expressing or showing hatred, ridicule or contempt for persons because of race, tribe, place of origin or colour.

According to a statement isssued on Thursday in Lusaka, Deputy Police Public Relations, Danny Mwale, the crime committed by the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defense is contrary to Section 70 (1) of the Penal Code chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Mwale said this is in connection with the alleged voice recording which the suspect made and published in January 2023 on various social media platforms where he expressed hatred, ridicule or contempt against the Bemba speaking people.

He said Mr. Mwale is detained in Police custody waiting for Court appearance.

Mwale was also recently arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission for corrupt practices involving more than US$573.9 million in connection with the procurement of the Gulfstream G650 Presidential Jet.

He was charged with three counts of Wilful Failure to Comply with Applicable Law and Procedure contrary to Section 34 (2) (b) and one count of fraudulent facilitation of payment from public revenue contrary to Section 34 (2) (a)(i) of the Anti-Corruption Act No.3 Of 2012.

The Anti-Corruption Commission Head-Corporate Communications,Timothy Moono, disclosed in a statement that investigations have established that Mr. Mwale, whilst acting together with others, between the January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017, being Permanent Secretary and the Chairperson of the Ministerial Procurement Committee for the Ministry of Defence, did wilfully fail to comply with the applicable law and procedure in the manner he approved the award of the tender number MOD/MPC/024-17.

He signed the amendment of contract number MOD/MPC/024-17 relating to the procurement of the Modernisation of the Defence forces programme at a contract price of US$ 400,000,000.00 to Elbit Systems Limited without approval from the Ministry Procurement Committee.

Moono further disclosed that investigations have also established that Stardy Mwale, whilst acting together with others, between the January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019, being Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, did wilfully fail to comply with the applicable law and procedure in the manner he signed a novation of the contract number MOD/MPC/002-19 between Elbit Systems Limited and Ministry of Defence to Savenda Systems Limited at a contract price of US$ 123,965,000.00.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.