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The Economic and Financial Crimes Court in Solwezi has convicted and sentenced former Managing Director of North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited, Happy Musumali, for corruption.
Musumali has been sentenced to one year and eleven months’ imprisonment with hard labour for corrupt practices, according to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Senior Corporate Communications Officer, Timothy Moono.
Moono confirmed the conviction and sentencing in a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday.
The Solwezi Subordinate Court, Economic and Financial Crimes Division, presided over by Principal Resident Magistrate Kasongamulilo, convicted Musumali on two counts of Abuse of Authority of Office and one count of Willful Failure to Follow Guidelines.
The ACC had, in 2023, arrested Musumali, aged 49, of House No. 6, Water Village, Solwezi, and initially charged him with twelve (12) counts of Abuse of Authority of Office, contrary to Section 21(1)(a) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012, and four (4) counts of Willful Failure to Follow Guidelines, contrary to Section 34 of the same Act.
However, due to duplicity in some counts, the charges were later reduced to three.
Particulars of the offences were that between October 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, while serving as Managing Director, Musumali arbitrarily authorised payments amounting to K98,263.14 from company funds for the purchase of motor vehicle spare parts, general servicing, panel beating, and spray painting for the company’s operational vehicle, a Toyota registration number BAA 221.
During the same period, Musumali also authorised the fueling of his personal vehicle, a Toyota Hilux registration number ALH 1625, using company fuel without authorisation from the Board of Directors.
“These acts were prejudicial to the interests of the company,” Moono said.
Musumali further willfully failed to comply with applicable laws and procurement procedures in the manner he authorised the awarding of a security contract between North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited and Arm Safety Security Company Limited.
In delivering judgment, Magistrate Kasongamulilo sentenced Musumali to twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labour in count one, eight months in count two, and three months in count three.
The sentences are to run concurrently, effective 7th October 2025.
“The Anti-Corruption Commission remains resolute in the fight against corruption and committed to ensuring that public officers are held accountable for their actions in order to uphold integrity and transparency in public service,” Moono said.
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