Former Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ) managing director, Dr Samuel Bwalya, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison with hard labour for abuse of office. The decision was handed down by Magistrate Faides Hamaundu after Dr Bwalya was found guilty of initiating the payment of school fees for his children by pressuring his co-workers to process when he was not entitled to education allowance as claimed.
Dr Bwalya was facing 12 counts of abuse of authority of office involving K781,195.78, and the particulars of the offence in the matter were that he committed the offence between May 1, 2020 and July 30, 2021, as a public officer, namely, managing director for Development Bank of Zambia.
During the trial, Magistrate Hamaundu found that Dr Bwalya had abused his position of authority by falsely claiming education allowances for his children, despite not being entitled to such benefits. The magistrate stated that it was evident that Dr Bwalya had initiated the payment of school fees for his children by pressuring his co-workers to process when he was not entitled.
The conviction and sentencing of Dr Bwalya send a strong message to public officials that they will be held accountable for any abuse of authority. The court’s decision also serves as a warning to individuals who may be tempted to abuse their positions of power for personal gain.
Speaking after the ruling, the prosecution team welcomed the verdict, saying that it was a clear indication that the judiciary was committed to fighting corruption and ensuring that public officials are held accountable for their actions.
The defense team, however, expressed their disappointment with the ruling and stated that they would appeal the decision. They argued that the evidence presented during the trial did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that Dr Bwalya had abused his office.
The sentencing of Dr Bwalya comes at a time when the Zambian government is making efforts to address corruption and improve accountability in the public sector. In recent years, there has been an increasing demand from civil society and the international community for stronger action to be taken against corruption.
The conviction and sentencing of Dr Bwalya are expected to provide a boost to the government’s efforts to improve governance and accountability in the country. It is hoped that the ruling will serve as a deterrent to other public officials who may be considering abusing their positions of power for personal gain.
the sentencing of Dr Bwalya for abuse of office sends a strong message to public officials that corruption will not be tolerated in Zambia. The judiciary’s commitment to fighting corruption and holding public officials accountable for their actions is a positive step towards improving governance and promoting transparency and accountability in the country.
