SUN REPORTER writes
@SunZambian
POLICE in Muchinga Province has announced it has arrested several officials from cooperative societies for alleged theft of farming inputs worthy thousands of Kwacha.
In a statement made available to The Sun, police commissioner, Joel Njase, said that those arrested include eight people from the Tionelepo and Soya beans Cooperative Society for theft of fertiliser and seed valued at K12,200; two leaders from the Mukwikile Cooperative Society for allegedly stealing fertiliser and seed valued at K2, 200.
Muchinga Province Police Commissioner, Joel Njase, named the suspects as Wounderson Chipoka, 63, Maxwell Mbulo, 66, Willinde Saru, 28, Edith Lungu, 43, Peter Nyirongo, 44, and Rontia Nyirenda, 52, all of Kalovya village in Chief Tembwe’s area.
Mr Njase said that six of the suspects have been charged with theft by agent involving 20 x 50kgs bags of soya beans fertilizer and 10 x 25kgs bags of soya beans seed, valued at K3,500, and the property of Tionelepo Cooperative Society.
Mr Njase said police also arrested Peter Nyirongo, Rontia Nyirenda 52 of Kalovya village for theft by agent involving 46 by 50kgs bags of soya beans fertilizer and 36 by 25kgs bag of soya beans seed altogether valued at K8, 700 property of Soya Cooperative Society.
In a related development, police in Shiwang’andu have arrested two Mukwikile Cooperative leaders for allegedly stealing 6 x50kg bags of D-Compound fertilizer, valued at K2, 200, and 15 x 20kg bags of groundnuts seed, belonging to cooperative members.
Mr Njase identified the suspects as the chairperson, Shadrick Chiluba, and the secretary, Edward Bwalya, who have both been charged with theft by agent.
Police in the district have also warned and cautioned two leaders from the Mwilwa Cooperatives Society for theft by agent.
Mr Njase named the two as Charity Kapinda the secretary and Borniface Mulenga.
The duo are alleged to have hidden the bags of groundnuts seed from the cooperative members and only distributed it after the district commissioner threatened to hand over to the police anyone that would be found to have stolen inputs for 2018/2019 season.
The police commissioner has warned to arrest and prosecute anyone that would be found to be involved in illegal activities involving farming inputs.
