Teacher, Education Officer nabbed by ACC operatives for allegedly soliciting, receiving bribes

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Livingstone has arrested and charged Mercy Mukupa, a teacher at Northmead Primary School in Lusaka, for corrupt practices involving the solicitation of K15,000.

The Commission has also arrested Kelly Mpundu, a clerical officer at the Southern Province Education Office in Choma, for corruptly receiving K13,000.

ACC Acting Head of Corporate Communications Chilufya Chisanga confirmed the arrests in a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday.

Mukupa, aged 34, of Thornpark in Lusaka, has been charged with two counts of Corrupt Practices by a Public Officer, contrary to Section 19(1) as read with Section 41 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012 of the Laws of Zambia.

Mpundu, 49, of Elaine Brittel in Livingstone, has been charged with one count of the same offence.

According to the particulars of the offence in count one, Mukupa allegedly, between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021, in Livingstone District, corruptly solicited K15,000 from Natasha Phiri as a reward for facilitating her recruitment as a teacher in the Ministry of Education.

In count two, Mukupa is alleged to have corruptly received K13,000 from Weka Phiri as an inducement or reward to facilitate the recruitment of her sister, Natasha, as a teacher in the Ministry of Education during the same period.

Further, the particulars of Mpundu’s offence allege that between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021, in Livingstone District, Mpundu, being a public officer, namely a clerical officer at the Southern Province Education Office in Choma District, corruptly received K9,500 as gratification from Mukupa.

Chisanga said the money had been obtained from Phiri as an inducement or reward to facilitate the recruitment of her sister, Natasha, as a teacher in the Ministry of Education.

He said the suspects had since been released on bond and are expected to appear in court soon.

“The Commission would like to warn public officers who solicit or accept bribes from prospective employees seeking Government employment to desist from such acts; otherwise the law will catch up with them, ”Chisanga said.

He stated that such conduct erodes transparency, accountability, and integrity in the recruitment process.

Chisanga said the arrests should serve as a warning and an unmistakable message that the Commission will relentlessly pursue and bring to justice anyone who abuses public office for personal gain.

“Corruption is not a shortcut; it is a crime and those who engage in it will face the full force of the law. We urge all public officers to uphold integrity and safeguard public trust,” he said.

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