UNMASKED: Inside Zambia’s ‘Jobs for Sale’ Syndicate

A fraudulent recruitment scheme is preying on unemployed health workers in Zambia. MakanDay traces fake health job payments to a ZESCO clerk at the centre of a growing recruitment scam.

By McStan Nga’ndu and Joanna Ndabala

A MakanDay investigation into an alleged corruption scam involving fake recruitment in Zambia’s public health sector—where desperate job seekers are duped into paying up to K40,000 for jobs that never materialise—has uncovered the identity of one of the suspected scammers.

The alleged agent behind the scam is a Zesco employee. He claims to have connections in the Ministry of Health and is collecting money from job seekers with false promises of employment.

MakanDay traced phone numbers used in the scam to Daniel Sitali. Further inquiries with individuals who had paid for the fraudulent recruitment revealed that he works at the Zesco office in Buchi.

Zesco confirmed Sitali’s employment but said no formal complaints or police reports had been made against their employee. The company stressed its zero-tolerance policy on corruption, and said it would act if official reports are filed.

“ZESCO maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and any such criminal acts,” aid company spokesperson Matongo Maumbi in a statement. “Should any evidence or formal report be brought to our attention, we will take immediate and appropriate action in line with our policies and the law.”

Sitali was contacted for comment, but he denied the claims, saying that he was not in a position to employ anyone.

He insisted on knowing the identities of those who had accused him of being a scammer.

“I would like to know those, madam, because I do not employ people,” Sitali said.

Less than five minutes later, one of the authors of this report received a call from an unknown number claiming to be a potential client wanting to run adverts with MakanDay. However, MakanDay is donor-funded and has never carried advertisements from individuals or companies.

Further investigation revealed that the caller was in fact Sitali, attempting to disguise himself as a client.

Victims’ testimonies

One of the victims, Maxwell Tembo*, paid K10,000 in an attempt to secure a job for his wife, a trained midwife based on the Copperbelt.

WhatsApp messages shared to MakanDay show that Sitali asked Tembo to pay K10,000, starting with a downpayment of K7,500.

The money was then paid in instalments. The first payment of K7,500 was sent to Sitali’s Airtel mobile money account via an agent, while the remaining K2,500 was sent from Tembo’s personal mobile money account on 27 May 2025. Sitali acknowledged receipt of the money on the same day.

“I waited for a week to get feedback from him, but nothing came through,” Tembo said. “I then called to follow up, and he later texted saying he would call me in the next 30 minutes.”

After 30 minutes passed, Tembo sent a follow-up text message. This time, Sitali responded, saying he would call because he had an update.

The following day, Sitali sent a message assuring Tembo that everything had been finalised and he was only waiting for the appointment letters. He added that his wife’s letter would be ready the next day.

Tembo’s wife, a trained midwife, graduated in 2021 and has remained unemployed since.

Tembo is not alone. Several others have come forward with similar stories — including Mercy*, a registered nurse, who told MakanDay she paid K3,300 and was later asked to top up another K1,000.

Another victim, Mwenda*, paid K2,300 to help his sister and brother secure public sector jobs.

Victims were shown fake confirmations via WhatsApp messages and mobile money receipts, with repeated assurances that “appointment letters are coming.” None of them ever received the promised jobs.

The transactions were conducted through Airtel and MTN mobile money platforms. MakanDay has seen screenshots of receipts bearing the name Daniel Sitali, confirming the payments made.

MakanDay also reviewed voice notes from desperate victims who shared how they were losing their hard-earned money on the basis of false promises. In one voice note, believed to be from Sitali’s accomplice, the sender claims that appointment letters had arrived and demands payment of outstanding balances.

“Mr Sitali, good morning. Kindly notify the people that the letters are in. The balance is needed as soon as possible—no excuses this time. We want to clear the other guys, but we’re stuck. We’re waiting for those payments, so please notify the people that the letters are in,” said Sitali’s accomplice in a voice note.

The suspects, though publicly named and traced, continue to operate without legal consequences—no police action yet.

In a previous edition, MakanDay exposed an alleged corruption syndicate involving public service recruitment for health workers. Desperate job seekers reported paying up to K40,000 to secure positions—yet many ended up with nothing.

Despite evidence and victims’ testimonies, police have yet to take action against the Zesco employee allegedly linked to the fake job racket.

Copperbelt Police Commissioner Pethias Siandenge described the conduct as corrupt.

He confirmed that the police had not yet received any formal complaints but urged the victims to report the matter.

“Mr. Sitali will be held accountable for his actions,” Siandenge said, adding that members of the public should refrain from engaging in corrupt practices.

“Soliciting a bribe is also a form of corruption,” he emphasised.

Further investigation by MakanDay has revealed that Sitali is not acting alone in the fake job racket. The scheme also involves individuals within the Ministry of Health.

MakanDay reviewed a text message exchange in which Sitali assured a client that he receives a commission for each successful job placement—and encouraged the client to help recruit others.

A system in crisis

In an earlier report, a Ministry of Health official—who spoke to MakanDay on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation—described the recruitment system as broken and spiralling out of control.

According to the official, corruption within the hiring process operates like a chain. Middlemen act as intermediaries between job seekers and members of the selection committee, as well as other officials involved in recruitment.

These middlemen collect cash payments from applicants and manage all communication on their behalf. The use of cash, the source explained, is intentional—meant to avoid leaving a traceable record through mobile money platforms or bank transfers.

In February, Health Minister Elijah Muchima announced that the Anti-Corruption Commission would launch an investigation into the recent health worker recruitment exercise following allegations of corruption.

ACC told MakanDay that the Commission had received a complaint of alleged corruption in the recruitment of health workers under the Ministry of Health from the Resident Doctors Association of Zambia.

ACC Head of Corporate Communications, Timothy Moono confirmed that investigations have commenced and are ongoing, but declined to provide further details, citing concerns that doing so could jeopardise the process.

Civil Service Commission remains silent

The Civil Service Commission (CSC)—a constitutional and statutory body responsible for employing and managing human resources in government—is yet to respond to MakanDay’s request for comment. Its mandate includes, among other duties, appointing, confirming, promoting, and disciplining civil servants, as well as handling appeals, excluding those involving constitutional office holders.

In January 2025, the Civil Service Commission announced the recruitment of 4,140 health workers, including 646 professional cholera volunteers. According to the Commission, the remaining 3,494 were selected through a competitive process.

This marked the third major recruitment under the UPND government, following the hiring of 11,276 health workers in 2022 and 3,250 in 2023.

*The victims’ real names have been concealed for their safety.

Joanna and McStan are currently undertaking a three-month internship at MakanDay. Joanna was the recipient of the inaugural MakanDay Award for Overall Best Student in Specialised Reporting at the ZAMCOM 7th Graduation Ceremony, while McStan emerged third in the prestigious 2024 MakanDay Media Awards.