ACC Pursuing GBM Over Laundering Of $4.6m

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has opened an investigation into Patriotic Front member Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba – popularly known as GBM – over alleged money laundering thought to total some US$4.9 million.

Mr Mwamba, who currently resides in South Africa, has been summoned for interrogation in connection to a company linked to him which was flagged in the most recent auditor general’s report. He is also suspected of being in possession of property believed to be the proceeds of a crime.

Elsewhere, the ACC has announced the continuation of the trial into former Postmaster General McPherson Chanda, who is accused of stealing money from the social cash transfer fund.

On Thursday, Mr Chanda, alongside Zampost’s finance director Best Mwaichi and operations director Isaac Kamwimba, was charged with 13 counts of theft at the Financial and Economic Crimes Court in Ndola. The men are alleged to have redirected funds intended for vulnerable people into a fixed deposit account before paying the money out to themselves.

The matter has been adjourned and trial will resume next week. 

The cases come as part of the New Dawn government’s promised crack down on corruption, which formed a cornerstone of President Hichilema’s 2021 election manifesto. The government has already delivered renewed funding and support for the ACC and the proceeds of economic crimes are being directed towards social programs, such as university scholarships for poorer students.