The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) says it will initiate civil asset forfeiture proceedings for various properties suspected to be proceeds of crime belonging to suspects linked to the K36.7 billion fraud at Greenbelt Authority (GBA).
ACB acting director general Gabriel Chembezi said in a statement on Friday that the suspects, who so far are 11, have since been formally charged and granted bail.
Those arrested include GBA chief executive officer Eric Chidzungu, director of irrigation operations Chisomo Kumbuyo, irrigation engineer Chester Chikwere, director of finance and investments Linda Phiri, procurement and assets disposal manager Masautso Kamowa and infrastructure development manager Synoden Kautsi.
Others are managing director of Kabiki and Partners Engineering Services Innocent Kawinuwinu, managing directors of PLMB Engineering Investment Stanley Bakolo and Victor Chabwera, EMD Consulting Engineers managing director Ephrone Mwenitete and Einstein Construction Limited managing director Kenneth Khonje.
It is alleged that GBA awarded contracts to the private contractors and dubiously made advance payments totalling K36.7 billion, funds which were allegedly used for political campaigns while some of the GBA officials benefitted in the form of kickbacks
The contracts were meant for the construction and rehabilitation of four irrigation schemes, namely Nthola Ilora in Karonga, Lweya in Nkhata-Bay, Mlambe in Mangochi and Nchalo in Chikwawa.
ACB arrested the 11 as part of its investigations emanating from a complaint it received on November 10 2025.
But the ACBs investigations established that the advance payments were initially K36.7 billion.
