Zambia To Channel US$4m Recovered Loot Towards Educating Over 2,000 Students

Authorities in Zambia have announced that recovered loot amounting to about US$4 million will be channeled towards education.

The country's anti-corruption graft handed over a cheque of the said amount to the state after a wave of seizures last year.

The handing over was attended by Ministers of Education, Douglas Syakalima and Finance, Situmbeko Musokotwane, as well as officials of the anti-graft body.

The money is to be handed to the Ministry of Education to help more than 2,000 students in need of bursaries, the Minister of Finance, is quoted to have said.

Money was found last year in a house belonging to journalist Margaret Musonda, also known as Faith Musonda, and was subsequently forfeited to the state as part of a deal for her not to be prosecuted, BBC's Zambian reporter Kennedy Gondwe reported from the capital Lusaka.

Anti-corruption activists slammed President Hakainde Hichelima's decision to allow for forfeiture of the funds in exchange for 'freedom.'

They accused the government of coming to power on the back of fighting corruption but reneging on that key promise by treating corruption with kid gloves.