By SYLVESTER MWALE –
YOUTH and Sport Minister Vincent Mwale says the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is free to extend investigations to his ministry as it probes alleged abuse of funds at the National Youth Development Council (NYDC).
. Mwale
Mr Mwale said there had been claims that some officials under his ministry could have been involved in the alleged misuse of funds at the NYDC and the ACC should feel free to extend the probe.
The ACC and the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) are currently investigating reports of corruption and abuse of funds at NYDC.
Mr Mwale said he had decided to open up the ministry for any investigations in relation to the alleged abuse of public funds at the NYDC.
“What I can say is that we have reported the matter to the ACC and DEC and the investigations are still going on.
“But there are counterclaims on those allegations so what I have done is to open up the ministry, if the ACC want to investigate anybody here, they are free to do so, they are not restricted to NYDC alone,” he said.
Mr Mwale said the findings of the ongoing investigations would be made public once the two institutions concluded their work.
Mr Mwale announced the dissolution of the NYDC Board early this month to pave way for the investigations following persistent public outcry on the manner in which public money was utilised by those in charge.
A total of K294, 596.37 representing 30 per cent of the funds released to NYDC were said to have been used on the chairperson Savior Chishimba’s expenses against a Board Meetings’ budget of K154, 710.
The NYDC’s integrity had been questioned by institutions such as Transparency International Zambia (TIZ).
A consortium of youth based civil society organisations had also called for the dissolution of the management and board of NYDC on account of financial mismanagement.
The National Youth Network on Population and Development (NYPD), Pan-African Youth Union (PYU) and the Zambia Youth Workers Association (ZYWA) among others stated that officials heading NYDC were misappropriating funds intended for youth empowerment.
