By Charles Mafa
The Zambian government has controversially appointed an officer allegedly linked to the theft of over a billion kwacha in public funds to a position within the same office that is under investigation for money laundering and theft.
In a recent major government reshuffle, President Hakainde Hichilema dismissed Ringo Zulu, the Controller of Internal Audit at the Ministry of Finance, along with 23 other officials. Among those dismissed were a minister, the government deputy chief whip, and several permanent secretaries.
In a shocking turn of events, Jammie Mukuwa, an officer allegedly implicated in the theft of public funds, has been appointed as the acting Controller of Internal Audit at the Ministry of Finance. This appointment comes despite ongoing corruption investigations within the Ministry, including embezzlement uncovered by Principal Internal Auditor Grandy Ntumbo in a 2021 audit report.
Mukuwa was among five directors initially transferred to the Cabinet Office in March last year to allow investigations and prevent document tampering. They were later reinstated by the Ministry of Finance. Other reinstated officials included Hector Sampa and Emmy Chenguluka from the Accountant General’s office, as well as Namaambo Kalyangile and Esther Konga from the Controller of Internal Audit’s office.
Mukuwa’s recent appointment as acting Controller of Internal Audit raises serious concerns about accountability. As the director of Audit Operations, she appears to have escaped any consequences from the previous audit report. Meanwhile, others—particularly the whistleblower whose exposure of corruption seemingly triggered reprisals—continue to suffer. The auditor remains suspended and off the payroll, facing ongoing persecution from ministry colleagues who avoided arrest.
Ministry of Finance’s Defence
In response to a press inquiry from MakanDay Centre for Investigative Journalism, the Ministry of Finance stated that “Ms. Mukuwa has not been appointed as Controller of Internal Audit,” describing the arrangement as “an administrative measure” in line with public service placement guidelines.
“As you may recall, the appointment of the immediate past Controller of Internal Audit was terminated by the Republican President on 21st February 2025,” the statement from the Secretary to the Treasury’s office explained. “Therefore, before a substantive office holder is appointed by the Republican President, an administrative arrangement has been made to assign Ms Jammie Mukuwa, Director of Audit Operations, as Acting Controller of Internal Audit.”
The Ministry advised MakanDay to engage with the ACC regarding ongoing investigations. However, the commission has yet to respond to MakanDay’s recent press query seeking an update on the case.
“… Suffice to say, although temporarily put on hold under Cabinet Office from the ministry to allow for investigations arising from the whistleblower’s report, there are no records indicating that Ms. Mukuwa was arrested,” the statement from the Secretary to the Treasury stated.
“As there were no active investigations against her by the ACC, Cabinet Office reassigned her back to the Ministry for placement,” the statement continued. “On this basis, she qualifies to continue performing her duties as a Director in the Ministry and is eligible to act in a higher position.”
According to an internal memo dated March 05, 2025, and seen by MakanDay, “the acting appointment for administrative convenience of Ms Jammie Mukuwa – Director of Audit Operations as Controller of Internal Audit has been extended from 4th March 2025 until the substantive holder is appointed to fill the vacant position”.
Mukuwa’s appointment as Controller of Internal Audit, replacing Zulu, follows a major government reshuffle by President Hichilema, on February 21, 2025, which affected 24 officials, including the dismissal of nine—among them a minister, the government deputy chief whip, and several permanent secretaries.
The Auditor’s Expose
The investigation into large-scale money laundering and corruption at the Ministry of General Education (MOGE) was initiated in December 2019 by Joyce Sundano Phiri, then Controller of Internal Audit at the Ministry of Finance, following intelligence reports of suspected fraud and corruption involving both government and donor funds.
Phiri assembled a team of forensic internal auditors to examine the Treasury Single Account (TSA) funds allocated to MOGE, along with donor funds from the World Bank under the Zambia Education Enhancement Project (ZEEP), Keeping Girls in School (KGS), and the Zambia Educational Projects Implementation Unit (ZEPIU).
Ntumbo, Principal Internal Auditor in the Forensic Audit Section of the Specialised Audit Department at the Ministry of Finance, led the investigation. In 2021, he submitted a forensic audit report to Chibwe Mulonda, who had replaced Phiri as Controller of Internal Audit at the time.
The report implicated senior officials, directors, and permanent secretaries at MOGE in widespread fraud and money laundering.
The financial irregularities found within the Ministry of General Education included K21 million spent on illegal travel allowances for senior officials, over K2 million paid for undelivered goods, and the theft of K530,000 at the Provincial Education Office in Kabwe.
Following these findings, Ntumbo formally reported corruption, abuse of office, and money laundering involving senior MOGE officials to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Wider Corruption Network Uncovered
Further investigations, along with Ntumbo’s interactions and inquiries with the ACC, exposed a broader corruption and money laundering network based at the Ministry of Finance. The scheme extended to the Auditor General’s Office and key institutions, including the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).
For example, over a span of 30 years, more than 200 government officials participated in systematic embezzlement, siphoning funds daily and weekly through treasury accounts and government loan and investment accounts.
The financial misconduct within the finance ministry involved the embezzlement of over K1 billion from the state treasury through fictitious allowances and a five-year payroll fraud.
In February 2022, Ntumbo presented evidence of economic plunder involving four aircraft (two ATRs and two Boeings) to the DEC. The evidence revealed a US$3 million payment by the government, yet the aircraft were never delivered. While reports suggest that the funds were collected using the Presidential Challenger aircraft under the previous Patriotic Front (PF) government, it remains unclear whether the money was obtained under the guise of a down payment for the planes needed to launch the new Zambia Airways.
Although these financial irregularities were reported to both ACC and DEC, leading to the arrest of 18 senior government officials—including the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, the Accountant General, and the Controller of Internal Audit, in March 2023—there has been little to no progress on the case.
Victimisation of the Whistleblower
Amid these developments, Ntumbo was forced into hiding in a safehouse owned by DEC, awaiting further investigation and potential prosecution of those responsible. He has been subjected to targeted actions by high-ranking government officials who avoided arrest and continue to hold key positions in the Ministry of Finance.
The persecution has taken various forms, including unjustified disciplinary actions initiated by senior government officials at the Ministry. In a particularly puzzling move, Ntumbo was abruptly transferred to Mongu in the Western Province. For over two years, his salary has been withheld, and he has been completely removed from the payroll, further compounding his suffering.
In response, the ACC issued warning statements, urging restraint and discouraging interference with ongoing investigations or further mistreatment of Ntumbo. Unfortunately, these warnings were ignored, and the persecution has continued.
Legal Battle and Victory
In light of this harassment, Ntumbo filed a lawsuit against his employer—the Ministry of Finance—for transferring him to Mongu and withholding his salary since January 2023, despite knowing he was residing in a safe house for his safety.
The lawsuit expanded to include the ACC and DEC, accusing them of failing to protect him from the mistreatment.
On December 13, 2023, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling in Ntumbo’s favour, overturning the transfer and dismissing the disciplinary hearing against him. Judge Catherine Kunda Makungu, who presided over the case, not only ordered the payment of Ntumbo’s salary in arrears but also directed the ACC to provide immediate accommodation in a safe house for him.
This legal victory came after a setback at the Lusaka High Court, where Judge Elita Phiri Mukwisa denied Ntumbo’s request for leave to proceed with judicial review. Despite this, the Appeals Court’s decisive intervention marked a pivotal moment in the whistleblower’s fight for justice.
The courtroom setback at the High Court had occurred when Judge Mwikisa rejected the leave to proceed with judicial review, arguing that the case could be resolved through other legal avenues.
Government’s Continued Persecution
The government has disregarded a Court of Appeal order that invalidated the transfer and annulled Ntumbo’s disciplinary hearing. He remains sidelined, left out in the cold and vulnerable to persecution by government officials allegedly involved in the theft, yet who have evaded arrest.
Photo Credit | The image used is AI-generated and is for illustration purposes only.
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