Mzimba DHO Assistant HRM arrested over K10.9 million theft

Police in Mzimba have arrested a 28-year-old Assistant Human Resources Manager for the district’s health office for the alleged offence of theft by servant.

The suspect, Boyd Chipeta, is alleged to have embezzled 10.9 million Malawi Kwacha through dubious means where he was depositing the money through some Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) under Mzimba South District Health Office.

Chipeta is alleged to have been depositing salary arrears every month for nine health workers starting from November 2022 up to May 2023 through some HSAs and the salary arrears were being deposited concurrently with their monthly salaries through their bank accounts.

The salary arrears recipients were not the rightful beneficiaries and Chipeta could claim back the money from these health workers after withdrawing from their accounts.

Information gathered by Police indicate that Chipeta, who is the Assistant Human Resources Officer is suspected to have been creating deliberate arrears for some HSAs which revealed that Chipeta was stealing government money by manipulating salaries of health workers.

According to Mzimba Police Station Publicist Peter Botha, the issue came to light on Friday last week as the team responsible for salaries at M’mbelwa District Council was consolidating June salaries for the Council.

“The team responsible for salaries were shocked after going through the May, 2023 payroll which alerted them that there is something fishy with government money,” Botha said.

He added; “When Chipeta who is also a member of the team was approached on the matter to explain, he admitted to have done the transactions.”

Botha went on to say the matter was then reported to police and law enforcers arrested Chipeta and charged him with the offence of Theft by Public Servant.

“The matter is still under investigations and the suspect will appear before court once the investigations are over,” he said.

Chipeta hails from Chamawoya Village in Traditional Authority Kambunduli in Nkhata Bay District.