Chama District Education Board Secretary (DEBS), Mr Titus Mbewe, has been arrested and charged with corrupt practices by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) involving over K2 million, which he allegedly mismanaged while serving as Mkushi DEBS in connection with the school feeding programme.
According to ACC Head of Corporate Communications Joseph Mwenya, Mr Mbewe has been charged with two counts of Abuse of Authority and one count of Wilful Failure to Follow Applicable Procedure, contrary to the Anti-Corruption Act.
Mr Mbewe allegedly committed the offences while serving as DEBS for Mkushi District in Central Province between January 2025 and December 2025.
In the first two counts, Mr Mbewe is alleged to have facilitated payments of K1,424,115.00 to Frelun Commodities Limited for the supply of white maize and K1,073,000.00 to Ichikwanka Multi-Purpose Cooperative for the supply of dried beans before the contracts were approved by the Mkushi Council Secretary.
Further, according to the ACC, Mr Mbewe, who has since been released on bond pending court appearance, allegedly authorised full payment to the suppliers before the goods were delivered.
In the third count, it is alleged that, during the same period and within the same jurisdiction, Mr Mbewe, acting with other persons unknown, facilitated the circumvention of procedure by purporting that the Evaluation Committee and Procurement Committee had evaluated the tenders when, in fact, they had not.
By Best Jere
