Ex-Eastern province official found guilty of job scam, jailed 12 months for corruption

The Chipata Subordinate Court has sentenced Mervis Chongwe, a former Office Orderly in the Eastern Province Provincial Administration, to 12 months simple imprisonment for corruption.

Chongwe was convicted on one count of corrupt practices contrary to Section 19(1) and 41 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012, according to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Head of Corporate Communications Timothy Moono.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday, Moono said Chongwe was found guilty of soliciting and receiving K900 as an inducement to facilitate employment in the civil service.

Job Scam and Conviction

According to court records, between December 11 and December 31, 2017, in Chipata District, Chongwe, acting with unknown persons, corruptly obtained K900 from Kondwani Chunga under the pretense of securing him a government job.

Chunga, in search of employment, had visited the Permanent Secretary’s office, where he met Chongwe.

She allegedly told him she could help process his employment if he paid K5,000.

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Chunga made an initial payment of K900, but the job was never secured.

Following investigations, Chongwe was arrested on September 23, 2021, and later pleaded guilty to the charge.

She was sentenced to 12 months simple imprisonment, effective March 24, 2025.

Moono warned public officials against engaging in corrupt practices, stating that those who fail to uphold professional standards will face prosecution.

“The ACC remains committed to ensuring that all public officials who abuse their positions for personal gain are held accountable,” he said.

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