ACB commences forfeiture of civil asset forfeiture for various properties belonging to arrested suspects of K36.7 billion dubious payment at Greenbelt Authority

ACB acting Director General, Gabriel Chembezi

* Their various properties are suspected to be proceeds of crime as ACB is set to obtain more warrants of arrest soon for remaining suspects in the matter

By Duncan Mlanjira

Having concluded the arrest of 11 people suspected to have involved in the alleged K36.7 billion dubious payment at Greenbelt Authority, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has since commenced civil asset forfeiture proceedings for various properties belonging to the defendants suspected to be proceeds of crime.

A statement from ACB acting Director General, Gabriel Chembezi issued today, January 13, identifies all 11, six from Greenbelt Authority and five contractors, who have been formally charged with various offences under the Corrupt Practices Act and the Penal Code.

They have been released on bail with the earliest trial scheduled for February 27, 2026 and the ACB further indicates that it will soon obtain more warrants of arrest for remaining suspects in the matter.

The suspected Greenbelt Authority are chief executive officer, Eric Dudley Chidzungu; director of irrigation operations, Dr. Chisomo Kumbuyo; director of finance & investments, Linda Phiri; procurement & assets disposal manager, Masauli’s Kamowa; infrastructure development manager, Synoden Kautsi; and irrigation engineer, Chester Chikwere.

The contractors are managing directors of Kabiki & Partners, Innocent Kawinuwinu; PLMB Engineering Investment, Stanley Bakali & Victor Chabwera; EMD Consulting Engineers, Ephrone Mwenitete; and Einstein Construction Ltd, Kenneth Khonje.

In his earlier communication on the matter made on January 17, Chembezi indicated that the arrests follow investigations into a complaint received in November 2025, alleging abuse of office and irregular payments in contracts awarded by Greenbelt Authority to Einstein Construction Limited and PLMB Civil Engineering Investments.

Chembezi indicates that advance payments amounting to more than K28 billion were made to the contractors without the projects being executed. Preliminary findings, according to the ACB, indicate that the contracts were awarded to construct and rehabilitate irrigation schemes in Nkhotakota, Karonga, Lilongwe and Nkhata Bay, but the projects were never implemented despite substantial payments being made.

“The investigations have established that K36,782,078,832.91 was paid to the two contracted companies and that this money was paid without performance bonds and using fake work certificates,” said Chembezi, adding that the funds were withdrawn from various banks and used for political campaigns and other personal purposes.

Chembezi said in his statement that the arrests demonstrates ACB’s commitment to fighting corruption in public projects.