The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services has recovered the full K28,000 that was misappropriated by a Deputy Head Teacher in Choma, Southern Province.

This amount, was reportedly gambled away in an online casino game called “Aviator.”

The Ministry takes this incident very seriously, as it undermines the core mission of the Social Cash Transfer Programme, which is designed to provide critical support to vulnerable individuals and families.

The individual involved has since been relieved of their duties as Pay Point Manager in charge of disbursing Social Cash Transfer funds. He is currently on police bond and is cooperating with law enforcement authorities in ongoing investigations.

It must be noted that the Ministry is this year accelerating the digitization of financial transactions, which minimizes human contact in handling funds and reduces the risk of mismanagement or delay in the disbursement of funds.

Digital platforms offer a more secure, transparent, and efficient means of disbursing resources to the rightful beneficiaries, ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it without delay or risk of mismanagement.

We urge members of the public to report any suspected misconduct or fraudulent activities to the appropriate authorities. Together, we can safeguard public resources and ensure they are used for their intended purpose which is supporting Zambia’s most vulnerable citizens.

As a Ministry, we will continue to work closely with relevant authorities to uphold the integrity of the Social Cash Transfer Programme and protect resources allocated to vulnerable populations.

Issued by:

Glenda Nachinga

Ministry of Community Development and Social Services

Principal Public Relations Officer