Zambia: Police await President approval to arrest Central province minister for theft of 2000 bags of maize and possible money laundering.

Police in Central Province are waiting for instructions from President Michael Sata to arrest Central Province Minister Phillip Kosamu for theft and money laundering.

According to information obtained by the Zambian Watchdog, the police intend to arrest Mr. Kosamu for theft of 2000 bags of maize and possible money laundering.
According to police intelligence sources, Kosamu was allocated 9000 bags of relief Maize under the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to be distributed to Chisomo in Muchinga constituency and Lubombwa in Chitambao Constituency.

The source said the Central Province Minister decided to withdraw 2000 bags of Maize from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in Serenje and started selling it at a black market price at his shop in Serenje called “ IN JESUS NAME”.

“The Minister got 2000 bags of the 9000 allocated to him to distribute and he is selling them at his shop called in Jesus Name” the source said.

The source said Mr. Kosamu is using a PF councillor in Serenje by the name of Chester Kasonde.

The source said since Kosamu was a presidential appointee, the investigative wings have asked permission from the president through provincial administration to seek permission to arrest Mr. Kosam.

Read more from source: Zambian watchdog