Government has dismissed over 600 civil servants countrywide in the last two years for alleged corruption-related activities and gross misconduct.
This is according to a progress report on employment and labour sector released by the Ministry of National Development Planning.
The report states that 581 officers were declared redundant while 41 were dismissed from the public service.

“In the employment and labour sector, 581 redundancies and 41 dismissals were recorded compared to 4,378 redundancies and 197 dismissals in 2014,” the report reads in part. Government has this year dismissed over 15 civil servants through the Civil Service Commission for allegedly abusing public funds. Government dismissed 12 accountants and one operations officer for their alleged involvement in various irregularities involving public funds.

The dismissed officers are mainly in the ministries of General Education, Commerce, Trade and Industry, Foreign Affairs and the provincial administration in Lusaka.

In a statement on Monday, Ministry of Finance public relations officer Chileshe Kandeta named the sacked officers as Chizaso Thole, a senior accountant, Eliya Mwale, an accountant, Lazarus Chanda, also an accountant, and Ivy Sibajene, all in the Ministry of General Education.
Others are Moses Thole, an accountant, Rodgers Mwanza, a senior accountant, and Lukanda Matambo, an accounts assistant in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry.

The rest are Noel Mulopa, an assistant operations director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Lawrence Phiri, an accountant in the same ministry.
Those dismissed at the Lusaka provincial administration are Grace Zimba, a principal accountant, Psela Banda, an accountant, Nzewa Chumbu, an accounts assistant, and Gideon Zulu, also an accounts assistant.

Three officers in the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development and three court officials were also dismissed for alleged abuse of public funds. Meanwhile, the report states that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security remains steadfast and proactive in addressing issues under the employment and labour sector.

“In line with the national development plans, the ministry will play a significant role in facilitating for increased job creation, promotion of the decent work agenda, improved labour productivity and ensuring efficiency in the labour market,” the report reports