Nevers Mumba Convicted of Abuse of Authority

Former Republican Vice President and High Commissioner to Canada Nevers Mumba has been convicted of abuse of authority of office.

Dr Mumba, who served as High Commissioner to Canada has been convicted by the Lusaka Magistrates Court on three counts of abuse of authority of office but has been granted an absolute discharge on mitigation.

Dr Mumba, 58, was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission and charged with one count of failure to follow procedure contrary to section 34 of the Anti-Corruption Act No 38 of 2010. He was also charged with two counts of abuse of authority of office contrary to Sections 99(1) of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.

In the first count, It was alleged that Dr Mumba on dates unknown but between1st October 2009 and 31st December 2010, being a person employed in the Public Service as Zambia High Commissioner to the Republic of Canada failed to follow procedure in the disbursement of Canadian Dollars CAD$122,000 received by the Zambia High Commission from Barrick Gold, funds meant for a cultural exchange programme which was being conducted by the Zambian High Commission in Canada.

It the second count, it was alleged that on dates unknown but between 1st October 2009 and 31st December 2010, being a person employed in the Public Service as Zambia High Commissioner to the Republic of Canada, Dr Mumba abused his authority of office by awarding a contract for electrical works at the Zambian High Commission residence in Canada to a company called Restcon Construction Services at a cost of Canadian Dollars CAD$9,000 without following laid down procedures.

In the third count, it was alleged that on dates unknown but between1st October 2009 and 31st December 2010, being a person employed in the Public Service as Zambia High Commissioner to the Republic of Canada, Dr Mumba abused his authority of office by awarding a contract for the carpeting at the Zambian High Commission residence in Canada to a company called Argos Carpets at a cost of Canadian Dollars CAD$19,850 without following laid down procedures.

In handing down the sentence, Magistrate Joshua Banda noted the mitigation rendered by the convict and gave an absolute discharge.

The Anti-Corruption Commission is happy that a conviction has been recorded but would have been more elated if the sentence was also strong enough to deter would be offenders so that the offence of corruption becomes a high risk crime.

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